The Editor’s take: Despite all the headwinds that suppliers of capital equipment have had to contend with this year – principally the global supply chain challenges and the rising costs of shipping – there is a general sentiment that the performance of the market in 2021 has been nothing short of remarkable.
Notwithstanding the apparent trend to extend equipment lifecycles by fleet owners during these uncertain times, the new equipment market has experienced a strong rebound, with some of the yellow metal equipment and commercial vehicle suppliers even reporting record revenues this year.
This resilient market landscape has overcome a host of challenges, and the current positive run is likely to continue into 2022 on the back of a favourable commodity cycle and a rebounding construction market. At present, the fundamental backdrop is favourable for the capital equipment rally to continue, even in the face of the current fourth COVID-19 wave and the agitation around the Omicron variant that has gripped the world.
New MD for Scania Southern Africa
Following Scania’s global decision to integrate several changes to its commercial operation, which will see a strengthened strategic transformation across the Scania Group’s regional hubs, the company has announced the appointment of Erik Bergvall as the new MD for Southern Africa. Bergvall takes over from Fabio Souza, who will return to Brazil at the end of the year as the MD of that market.
Bergvall has served in numerous senior leadership roles during his 14-year career with Scania. Most recently he was MD, Scania Middle East where he delivered strong growth in both vehicle sales and after sales, while introducing several new sustainable transport solutions to the Gulf region.
Prior to this, Bergvall was regional director, responsible for the Northwest Region at Scania Germany. He holds a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management from the Linkoping University of Technology in Sweden.
Bergvall’s focus as MD for Scania Southern Africa will be the on strengthening of Scania’s customer proposition, with particular emphasis on the launch of new innovations designed to increase customer profitability and operating efficiencies.
As southern Africa’s transport industry looks to adapt and embrace the benefits of digitalisation aimed to improve efficiencies, reduce costs and increase service levels, while reducing the impact on the environment, Bergvall is well positioned to support both Scania’s internal team and a strong growth in customer rollout.
Scania Southern Africa’s increased ability to support its customers’ business growth through one-on-one partnerships, unrivalled fuel efficiency and advanced technological innovations are heralding a new era for local transport operators. While driving these changes, Bergvall is looking forward to building on Scania’s reputation as a leader in the local transport industry. Bergvall will take up his position in January 2022.
New DAF range proving its mettle in bulk mining logistics
As part of an 80-truck deal, Babcock on 26 October delivered 35 DAF XF 480 trucks to leading Mpumalanga-based mining logistics specialist, VR Cargo, adding to the 10 units handed over in September this year. The big-ticket deal is testimony to the rapid traction the new DAF XF range is gaining in bulk mining logistics since its local launch in March this year.
Babcock’s recent sale of 80 DAF XF 480 Smart trucks to VR Cargo, one of the leading side-tipper operators in the mining sector in South Africa, is proof that the brand is fast paying its school fees and proving its mettle in the bulk mining logistics sector.
A few years after being crowned International Truck of the Year 2018 by an independent jury of leading road transport journalists from 23 European countries, the DAF XF range finally hit South African shores in March this year. Launched under the ‘pure excellence’ theme, the range is living up to its billing, with recent big-ticket sales to some of the prestigious fleet operators in the country. The 80-truck VR Cargo deal comes on the back of yet another landmark sale of 100 XF trucks to another big mining logistics company in South Africa.
Having received an initial 10 units in September this year, VR Cargo took delivery of a further 35 units at a handover ceremony attended by Capital Equipment News on 26 October 2021 at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga. The trucks have been deployed in a side-tipper application, transporting chrome concentrate from Mpumalanga to Maputo, Mozambique.
The importance of reskilling the workforce post-COVID-19
To emerge stronger from the COVID-19 crisis, companies should start focusing on reskilling their workforces now. As the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) evolves, skills development becomes even more important given the changing skill sets. This feature explores the importance of reskilling the workforce and the role played by industry in providing customer training to stay abreast of these changing times.
On the importance for fleet owners to reskill their workforce in order to emerge stronger post COVID-19, Epiroc Regional Automation Manager Eeje van Jaarsveld says the outbreak of the pandemic has highlighted the importance of data and the current inability to understand and use data “in a meaningful manner”.
He says COVID-19 has forced organisations to reduce numbers on ground, and so remove a large part of their first line of defence when it comes to machine maintenance, for example.
“To fill this gap, we need virtual eyes and ears where we once had people on the ground. These ‘eyes’ and ‘ears’ are provided to us by sensors on our machines generating data. However, this data is not worth much unless you know how to interact with it and to take action based on what the data tells you.”
The biggest gap in the market currently centres around skilled personnel who understand how the ecosystem in which our machines operate has changed because of Covid-19.
Epiroc Technical Training Manager, Parts and Service Hannes van Deventer says organisations should invest in detailed training needs analyses among the workforce to identify all training gaps and then build a training plan for the organisational needs.
“This plan must then be implemented and executed with specific deadlines to ensure that upskilling the workforce will ensure continuity and success going forward, with new digital technology and automation introduced in the workplace.”
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