ON THE COVER: Revitalised in 2021, Kopano Copper Mine is operated by MP Mining Pty Ltd in Botswana. In the past two years, through scientific management and efficient operation, MP Mining has restored the vitality of this long-dormant copper mine and achieved an annual output of 70,000 tons of copper concentrate, in large part thanks to Sany Equipment.
Known for outstanding performance and reliability, Sany products have won the trust and praise of its customers. At Kopano Copper Mine there are currently 18 Sany SKT105S wide-body mining trucks, two SY980H excavators, and one SY500H excavator working in the Kopano copper mine.
At the bottom of the pit, Sany SKT105S trucks and SY980H excavators cooperate to load ore.
Each truck carries 65 tons of copper ore to and from the two-kilometre production line. The slope of 12.5 degrees and a load of 65 tons are a testament to the stability of the equipment.
With an availability of more than 95% and a transfer efficiency of 260t/h, the SKT105Sstands out amongst ADTs and other trucks operating in the same field because of its 25L/h fuel consumption.
Compared to other brands, the Sany SY980H excavator offers customers high efficiency, low fuel consumption and high stability.
“The fuel consumption of the SY980H is 52l/h, compared with the 80l/h of another comparable brand. This means, if it works more than 19 hours a day, it will save over 200,000 US dollars a year. Add to that availability and reliability, and what else is there to consider?” says the chairman of MP Mining, Ahti Vilppula who has been engaged in the mining industry for over 40 years.
Since the first SY980H entered the site, it has won the trust of the customer with its excellent performance of 4000 hours of zero failure. It has also strengthened cooperation between Sany and Kopano Copper Mine,
EFFECTIVE MATERIALS HANDLING: Equipment selection is a major consideration in the movement of items in various processes and throughout the supply chain and has the potential to make or break an operation’s effectiveness.
According to Devan Govender of Smith Power Equipment, the authorised distributor of Baoli materials handling equipment in South Africa, there are many considerations when choosing a forklift or reach truck that go far beyond the price and current application of the equipment.
Factors such as future growth, product expansion, underfoot conditions and production hours can play a significant role in machine selection. Furthermore, weather and climatic conditions may play havoc with the best plans where temperature can affect charging times or traction of machines among other factors.
That is also the reason why Govender recommends working with companies that have the expertise and product range to ensure the right equipment for the job.
“Proper planning in the selection of material handling solutions is the most important part of the process for businesses. It contributes to the optimisation of operational efficiency and productivity in a business. If the handling division can maintain high levels of operating efficiency, then it should be able to generate greater profits per project with the same resources.
“It all starts with current and future plans and the compilation of a comprehensive site survey document per application. This takes all the factors mentioned previously into account and looks at the height that loads need to be lifted, weight, available space, energy requirements such as battery, diesel or LP Gas etc and any other requirements such as floor surfaces, outside terrain including gradients and other factors.
“To make it even more challenging, we recommend gaining insight into the operation’s future plans, taking into consideration possible changes of premises, energy efficiency and other considerations. Proper health and safety planning also needs to be done as does understanding hour usage and site application to get the best results,” says Govender.
JCB 3DX ECO BACKHOES: Trusting Bell Equipment with their needs ensured Amanzi Plant Hire was able to have their backhoe needs met, and foster industry relationships. Table View is a popular suburb on Cape Town’s West Coast and is named after its view of the iconic Table Mountain.
Johnny Waters, a former mechanic and later a salesman of earthmoving equipment, had the task in the late 1980s of de-bushing large sections of what is now a built-up Table View at a time when there were only a few houses standing as this area was considered rather remote by the people of Cape Town.
“My dad, Johnny, did that with a wheeled loader and worked under the name of Waters Plant Hire,” says his son, Jonathan Waters, who now runs the business.
“At one point he had no less than 19 wheeled loaders.”
In time, Johnny added two tipper trucks and an excavator to his fleet and served many clients in the Cape Peninsula working especially on mushroom farms and clay pits associated with clay brick plants, township development and civil construction projects.
“I joined the business in 2017 after qualifying as a civil engineer at Stellenbosch University and gaining practical experience in order to register as a civil engineer,” Jonathan adds.
“I had also worked for a while on our family’s farm near Mossel Bay where we prepared the land to plant almonds.”
The name of Waters Plant Hire changed over time to Amanzi Plant Hire, where ‘amanzi’ is the isiXhosa word for water.
“We’d found that the market had changed, and people were not wanting to pay the higher rates for a wheeled loader when they really only needed a backhoe loader,” Jonathan explains.
“That is why we now run JCB Backhoe Loaders and focus a lot more on clients working in civil engineering and to a lesser extent on those working in agriculture. Excavators now do most jobs better than what wheeled loaders could and are therefore a better bet to have as plant for hire.”
Waters mentions that their first JCB Backhoe Loaders had been bought from another franchise holder before Bell Equipment became the South African distributor for this market-leading machine, but he recalls that both he and his father, Johnny, were very pleased when Bell Equipment took over.
TELEMATICS WITH THE POWER TO PREDICT: Ctrack, a leading player in the telematics business, is transforming its business with the slogan ‘The Power to Predict’ at the nucleus of this new strategy as they look to meet its customers’ high demands in a changing and challenging environment.
Ctrack has a long history of market leadership in telematics, fleet management and technology development that facilitated industry disruptions throughout their 38-year history.
Highlights include developing the technology behind the first multi-box tracking unit in 1997, Discovery Insure’s usage-based insurance in 2011 and the launch of Crystal in 2022.
“With the emergence of big data, Ctrack realised that we needed to offer our clients solutions that allow them to utilise this data to their advantage in the most efficient way possible,” says Hein Jordt, Chief Executive Officer of Ctrack.
Ctrack’s brand transformation reflects its commitment to providing cutting-edge data and telematics solutions that stretch beyond traditional fleet management capabilities. Ctrack recognises the immense potential that lies within harnessing data to drive actionable intelligence and optimise business operations.
“This is more than a cosmetic change, it signifies Ctrack’s dedication to innovation and commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements. The revamped brand reflects our belief in the transformative potential of data insights and predictive power,” adds Jordt.
The power to predict goes hand in hand with the core pillars that have always been the motivating factor for Ctrack’s ongoing research and development efforts as they aim to assist customers in reducing risk and minimising safety hazards, optimising fleet productivity and efficiency, improving asset management and tracking, managing, and improving driver behaviour and automating and streamlining compliance. These pillars along with a sense of urgency have allowed Ctrack to develop flourishing long-term business relationships.
HEAVY-DUTY TRAILER TYRES: Selecting the correct tyres for your heavy-duty trailer goes beyond just performance, safety, and durability—it’s also about achieving the lowest cost per kilometre (CPK) and ensuring sustainability.
When choosing a tyre for your trailer, making the wrong choice can lead to increased fuel consumption, premature tyre failure, reduced efficiency, frequent breakdowns, or accidents. These issues can cause extra expenses and inconvenience, which nobody wants when relying on a workhorse like a trailer.
To help you navigate this important decision, Sumitomo Rubber South Africa, distributor of Dunlop, Sumitomo, and Falken tyre brands, provides these helpful tips.
Start by evaluating your workload and conducting thorough research to determine your trailer tyre requirements. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your tyre partner or dealer for valuable assistance in selecting the most suitable brand and product.
Sumitomo Rubber SA has an Infield Technical Services (ITS) team located in different regions, including Africa, dedicated to advising customers on tyre selection, application, and performance. Their expertise can make a significant difference in your business growth and help you maximise the performance of your tyres.
Additionally, consider doing a scrap tyre analysis to identify the reasons behind their failures or removal due to operational damage. Fleet surveys can offer valuable insights, including a detailed examination of tyre wear patterns and potential mechanical irregularities in the vehicles causing tyre wear.
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