Capital Equipment News July 2016

CONSTRUCTION

“On African soil, the machines have gained a strong following from users who require machines that can work reliably for extended periods, in rough terrain, with minimal support.”

Michael Nghulondo runs Cango Construction in Ongwediva.

machines to maintain the toughest parts of the country’s roads and has done so for the past two decades when the newly-formed Government received a gift of 14 Mitsubishi graders from the Japanese government. Those machines have proved themselves and are still in operation across the country today,” Bartsch says. Contractors’ favourite He adds that contractors responsible for road construction and maintenance also rely on Mitsubishi/Hidromek because of their low running costs and continuous availability. Fuel savings also play a major role with contractors who operate mixed fleets. He maintains that fuel savings of the Mitsubishi/ Hidromek amount to approximately NAD2- million over five years. “These are not my words; it is feedback from subcontractors who have given me the figures.” Contractors appreciate the simplicity of the machines as fewer things can go wrong and there is no need for out-of-town technicians in the event of a fault. This applies to all mod- els: from the Hidromek MG 460 18-ton to the Hidromek MG 431 16-ton and Hidromek MG 330 14-ton machines. Fuel savings also help to keep the machines out in the field for lon- ger where the size of the diesel bowser may decide how far the grader can venture into the bush to clear roads.

In remote areas such as those in the north of Namibia – surrounding towns like Oshakati – graders are essential for road building, but also for assistance with other infrastructural projects such as the delivery of water infra- structure and building schools and hospitals. Trusted machines Michael Nghulondo, who owns Cango Construction in Ongwediva, recently insisted on buying a Hidromek MG 460 grader when his business expanded into site preparation for construction sites, local road maintenance and construction projects. “I know and have worked with Mitsubishi graders in the past. As a result, when the requirement for a grader was warranted, I insisted on purchasing a new Hidromek MG 460 to assist with the growing number of projects we are undertaking for rural commu- nities. I trust Hidromek and know it will be a good investment in years to come. “My operators have built up a high level of re- spect for the machine and its ability and pow- er compared with other brand-name graders that I have hired until now. It is more efficient in terms of fuel. These graders are in line with my strategy of growing the business to be self-sustainable. Out here our reputation is everything.

Grader specialist, Peter Kaliszka of ELB Equipment.

Owner of Northern Auto Repairs, Braam Ellis, supports Nghulondo’s views and adds that the northern region of Namibia is in the grip of a severe drought. Budgets have been cut, making efficiency a top priority for local contractors. “Payments can take some time to materialise out here, so as far as contractors are concerned, it pays to have machines that deliver the quickest return on investments. More to come With the overall responsibility for grader sales across the entire sub-region, Kaliszka says that Namibia is just one example of the many countries in Africa, including South Africa, where the Hidromek grader brand is a trusted partner for road construction companies. “In future, fleet owners who have become loyal to the brand will have more choices as newer and more sophisticated machines get added to the line-up to fill niches in ur- ban and specialist applications. So watch this space.” b

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