COVER STORY: How do you get a sofa that is too large to go up a stairwell into a third-floor apartment, or what to do if your new fiberglass swimming pool needs to go into the backyard of your home that has no access there?
It’s pretty easy if you have a stable JCB 540-170 Telehandler and you simply extend its impressive 17-metre boom to reach those places with enough capacity for safe loads.
Opihi Builders is owned by New Zealand-born Pete Henderson and ‘Opihi’ is a Maori word that means growth. According to Construction Manager, Raygen Hurford, the company has made its name in the picturesque Garden Route towns of Plettenberg Bay and Knysna since its founding in the mid-1980s and builds mostly luxury residential and holiday homes and high-density housing in secure complexes. Some commercial buildings make up the balance of the company’s portfolio.
“We can happily say we’ve built our reputation on delivering quality and ethical work and bringing projects in on time and on budget,” Raygen says. “We have noticed changes in the industry though as skilled labour becomes scarcer and clients demand shorter turn-around times, which has led to us becoming more and more mechanised.” “It’s important to note that mechanisation doesn’t take away jobs but rather complements the human capital that is present.”
To this end, Opihi Builders had previously owned a JCB 540-170 Telehandler and with an upturn in the company’s post-COVID order book, they decided to sell the older machine out of hand and buy a new one from Bell Equipment in Port Elizabeth where Sales Representative Tom Swartz assisted them. “Having owned a similar machine before, the JCB 540-170 Telehandler almost sells itself due to its many varied, safe and efficient uses,” Raygen continues. “From the outset, it immediately replaces antiquated technology like belt conveyors taking building material and support structures up to raised floors on multistoried building sites due to the long reach its 17-metre boom offers.”
SKID STEERS: In South Africa, skid steers are making waves with innovative designs and powerful capabilities. The introduction of the all-electric Bobcat S7X and John Deere’s impressive 318G Skid Steer demonstrate the industry’s commitment to pushing boundaries and providing operators with efficient, eco-friendly, and high-performing machines.
As skid steers continue to evolve, they remain essential tools across various industries, from construction to agriculture, contributing to productivity and success. With these advancements, skid steers are proving once again that their small stature hides their immense power and potential.
Early this year, innovation reached new heights with the introduction of two groundbreaking concept machines from Bobcat. Building on the 2022 release of the Bobcat T7X, the world’s first all-electric compact track loader, Bobcat unveiled the Bobcat S7X, the world’s first all-electric skid-steer loader at Conexpo.
Scott Park, CEO, and Vice Chairman of Doosan Bobcat expressed the company’s commitment to pushing boundaries for the benefit of their customers. “At Bobcat, we are always pushing the boundaries to explore the next leading advancements that help our customers accomplish more and propel the industry forward. We are committed to innovating for our customers’ needs first and foremost, so that they can become more efficient, more productive, and more successful.”
John Deere Africa Middle East has also made its mark in the skid steer market. They introduced their Skid Steer range, which includes the 316G and the powerful 318G Skid Steers. The 318G is engineered with durability, productivity, and operator comfort as top priorities, making it a standout choice for various applications.
The John Deere 318G Skid Steer brings advanced technology and the brand’s expertise to the forefront, delivering exceptional results across a wide range of applications, from construction to agriculture and material handling.
TELEMATIC SOLUTIONS: Ctrack has a long history of market leadership in telematics, fleet management and technology development that facilitated industry disruptions throughout its 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 their 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 has allowed Ctrack to develop flourishing long term business relationships.
FLEET EFFICIENCY: Louis Marais, General Manager for Commercial Sales at Sumitomo Rubber South Africa, the manufacturer and distributor of the Dunlop, Sumitomo, and Falken tyre brands, says effective fleet tyre management goes beyond superficially inspecting worn-out tyres.
“Conducting a thorough analysis of scrap tyres and doing comprehensive fleet surveys can play a pivotal role in identifying the underlying reasons for tyre failures, optimising tyre performance, and ensuring the safety and profitability of your fleet,” he says. “This expertise can have a transformative impact on the business growth of commercial fleets, empowering owners and operators to take proactive steps to minimise tyre cost per kilometre (CPK) and improve safety,” he adds.
Marais recommends that every commercial fleet should prioritise an essential task, at least quarterly, by conducting a comprehensive examination of the entire fleet’s tyres and vehicles. This crucial analysis yields valuable insights that can significantly impact the fleet’s performance and budget. “By assessing the condition of the fleet as a whole, fleet surveys enable fleet managers to make informed decisions regarding tyre selection, maintenance practices, and overall fleet efficiency,” says Marais.
A fleet survey is a thorough inspection of a fleet’s tyres and generates a wealth of data regarding tyre wear patterns, tyre condition, tyre pressure, and vehicle performance. This data-driven approach empowers fleet managers to identify trends, Make evidence-based decisions, and tailor maintenance practices to specific vehicles or routes.
EXTRA-HEAVY TRUCKS: Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) introduced Anton Falck, the recently appointed Vice President of Hino South Africa in June this year.
Leon Theron, Senior Vice President – Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) introduced Falck to mark the return of Hino to the extra-heavy segment of the local truck market. Falck took the over from Ernie Trautmann, who has retired.
“I am honoured to have been granted this rare opportunity to head up, what we believe to be an important truck brand in South Africa and to ensure that Hino makes a valuable contribution to the local economy,” says Falck.
“We are pleased to have successfully launched the highly anticipated new Hino 700. This vehicle sets a new standard for its class in the industry, boasting exceptional performance and outstanding safety features at a highly competitive price. The product has been well received and the initial feedback from both our dealer network and customers has been overwhelmingly positive.
“We are aggressively promoting the Hino 700 and anticipate that over the next few years, the Hino 700 will help us establish a strong presence in the extra-heavy segment, where we have not played a significant role previously,” commented Falck.
Hino South Africa wrapped up the local launch of its new 700-Series trucks recently. The company views the series as an important new competitor in the extra-extra heavy segment of the market. This segment is responsible for 60% of truck sales in South Africa.
During the launch, the model range of four models was represented with various bodies and trailers suited to specific operations.
INSURANCE: Titled We Are Where You Are, Hollard Insurance’s latest campaign, launched in June this year, emphasises the importance of on-the-ground relationships, especially when it comes to addressing the unique insurance needs of South African trucks, fleets, and business owners.
This campaign, unveiled in Johannesburg, underscores the vital role of broker partnerships and localised insurance solutions tailored to the specific challenges faced by diverse regions and communities across South Africa.
Nash Omar, CEO of Hollard Insure, highlights the insurer’s commitment to personal interaction amid the technological advancements in the industry.
“In the face of unprecedented challenges over the last three years, we’ve proven the resilience of our industry, thanks in part to the invaluable contributions of brokers,” noted Omar. “Our industry thrives on personal connections, and brokers have been instrumental in reshaping the way we work.”
Abdul Ebrahim, Head of the Johannesburg Region at Hollard, emphasises the importance of understanding local communities and their unique risk challenges. He stresses the significance of meeting customers where they are, both geographically and culturally, as an essential element in providing exceptional service. Ebrahim explains, “Every region has its distinct community, risk challenges, and solutions. This includes understanding the language of the industry-specific to your region.”
DIGITALISATION: Citadel House of Technologies, in recognition of these challenges, has unveiled Fortress Solutions, a powerful and cost-effective digital project and asset management solution (AMS).
Fortress Solutions is set to redefine the way organisations manage projects and assets throughout their lifecycle, with a focus on achieving sustainable operational excellence, after launching in South Africa this month.
Within the realm of Asset Management Systems (AMS), there is a noticeable scarcity of software tools geared towards proactive asset management. This gap forces many companies to rely on reactive maintenance strategies. Fortress Solutions, developed by Citadel House of Technologies, has set out to address this gap by offering a proactive approach to asset management.
According to Nyiko Chabalala, a Research and Development Engineer at Citadel House of Technologies, “Numerous technical studies reveal that maintaining assets on a regular basis results in a substantially longer lifespan of the asset, and in addition, if the maintenance is carried out at optimal intervals, this results in much more cost-effective maintenance, resulting in substantial savings for the owner of the asset. Deterioration of assets due to poor asset and project management results in revenue loss and ultimately reputational damage.”
In the world of asset management and maintenance, project management plays an integral role. Every new contract undertaken by management or maintenance practitioners undergoes a meticulous project management process, from initiation to the asset’s final handover to the client. Fortress Solutions sets itself apart by seamlessly integrating project management into its operational framework.
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