Capital Equipment News October 2016

Model

CASE DX200LCA

Operating weight

21 500 kg

Engine Power

Isuzu 4HK1X

117 kW @ 1 800 rpm

Boom length

5,7 m

The CASE CX210B features a variable control hydraulic pump which maintains optimum engine rpm during heavy load work.

JEWELS IN THE CROWN The 18-25 t excavator class size remains the preferred tool of trade for general construction applications in southern Africa, and several new launches by a number of OEMs vying for a share of this seemingly overtraded market underline the need for improved performance, increased productivity, durability, fuel efficiency and lower cost of ownership, especially in such a cutthroat trading environment. By Munesu Shoko

Speaking of pulling out all stops, due to the competitive nature of this market, OEMs also continue to give enough attention to radical machine upgrades mainly aimed at increasing productivity for fleet owners, while shrinking operating costs as much as possible. Recent new launches by a host of OEMs, including CASE Construction, Hyundai, Liebherr and Doosan, demonstrate that relentless innovation is a key driver for OEMs as they seek to stay relevant and com- petitive in such a pitiless trading environment. Improved productivity One of the key market participants in the 18-25 t excavator market segment is Doosan, through its local dealer, DISA Equipment, trading as Doosan South Africa. With over 600 of the Doosan 20 t size class excavators already operating in southern Africa, the recently launched 21,5 t Doosan DX225LCA aims to build on the success of its predecessor models. It comes with several new features that significantly improve fuel efficiency and overall lifetime operating costs. It benefits from an array of feature upgrades for bet- ter performance, productivity, durability and lower cost of operation. It is ideally suited for all construction, forestry and light mining applications, according to Chris Whitehead,

T he general construction exca- vator remains the preferred excavator size for local con- struction contractors. Testimo- ny to this is the fact that sales units of the 18-25 t size catego- ry continue to eclipse those of other excava- tor sizes. Over the past couple of years, unit sales of this market tier represented about 60% of the total excavator market in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, according to industry statistics. In the 10 months to October 2015, of the total 946 excavators sold, 526 units fell into the 18-25 t class size. However, due to the tough market conditions this year, the mar- ket size has significantly shrunk in recent months. In the last three months, June only saw 69 units in this market tier sold, while

July and August contracted to 60 and 58 units, respectively. There is general consensus that this is a lucrative market segment but is also fiercely contested with no less than 14 brands vying for a share of the market in South Africa, from value through to premium makers. “While this excavator segment of the market may be perceived as being lucrative, the total industry volume (TIV) of this market segment has shrunk 16% year-on-year (12 months rolling),” says Brenton Kemp, managing director of CSE, the South African authorised dealer of CASE Construction. “When considering the number of brands supplying into this segment of the market, the reduced volumes place severe pressure on margins, as OEMs pull out all stops to capture the ever-reducing demand,” adds Kemp.

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