Capital Equipment News September 2018

CONSTRUCTION NEWS

KOMTRAX key to effective rental management

KOMTRAX, Komatsu’s advanced remote equipment and machine monitoring system, has become an indispensable tool for the management of an extensive fleet of capital equipment operated by Old Lady & Son Plant Hire (OL&S). The KwaZulu-Natal-based company leas- es equipment primarily to the construction industry and recently extended its footprint into mining and quarrying. KOMTRAX gives operations managers and hire operators greater control over their operations by pro- viding easy access to the information they need to manage their fleets every day. “Wireless, secure and user-friendly, the web-based application places a wealth of information at the user’s fingertips so that they can enhance utilisation, minimise downtime and reduce operating costs,” says Komatsu Manager: Sales and Marketing, Toshi Ohtsuka. Areas in which KOMTRAX delivers user support are wide-ranging and include parameters like equipment hours, average hourly fuel consumption, idling times, water temperature and fuel levels. Machine condi- tioning is essential, and the system provides users with regular updates on routine maintenance needs. OL&S Plant Hire owner Dave Haines makes extensive use of KOMTRAX, to the point where it is now an integral part of the operation. “As our business is equipment From construction to landscaping, the newly launched Kubota B26 TLB – available locally from exclusive distributor, Smith Power Equipment (SPE) – is built to work across diverse applications. It also boasts more digging force, increased backhoe lift, bucket, breakout and digging capacity, but retaining a very compact build. Whether the job calls for a tractor with three-point implements, excavating utility trenches, or loading spoil into an end- dump, the B26 can take all the applications with ease. According to Greg Bergmann, Operations Manager at SPE, the new TLB fits between the existing BX25D and the L45 TLB models in Smith Power’s range. The B26 TLB comes with a third function valve bank on the backhoe as standard. This allows for use of a third function attachment such as a grapple or 4-in-1 bucket, thus maximising the machine’s versatility. At the centre of it all is the 26 hp Kubota diesel engine that boasts an enviable combi- nation of high power, high torque rise, low

From left: Jacques van der Sandt, senior operations manager, Komatsu SA Pinetown branch; Dave Haines, owner of Old Lady & Son Plant Hire; and Ravi Naidoo, sales representative, Komatsu SA Pinetown branch.

rental, we are concerned with hours; the billable hours we charge our customers for the use of our machines. Maintenance is a non-negotiable issue and we strictly observe the minor and major service procedures noti- fied by KOMTRAX. A short-term cost-saving gained by skimping on an oil change is nothing compared with the financial conse- quences of an expensive machine standing idle,” he says. In terms of operational costs, diesel consumption is by far his customers’ biggest noise and low vibration. Increased power has resulted in improved backhoe, bucket and three-point lift capacity. The lifting power of the B26’s three-point hitch has been increased by 60%, offering greater versatility with implements. Mean- while, thanks to larger hydraulic pumps, the machine comes with im- proved power for tough excavating jobs, while improving the backhoe lift capacity by 18%. “To help customers get more power and dig deeper, bucket breakout force has been increased by 35%, which translates into more than 203 mm of more digging depth,” explains Bergmann. The backhoe comes with increased digging capacity, offering more power and the ability to dig deeper. “The B26 TLB offers more than 4 000 lbs of breakout force and a digging depth of 8’ 4”. Despite increased power, the machine retains a very compact build, allowing it

consideration. “They may have two identical excavators both working a nine-hour shift, but the operating costs can vary enormously. The first may be used for pipe laying and burn diesel at a rate of 13,4 ℓ /hour. The second may be used for bulk earthworks and contin- ually load trucks, which would likely consume fuel at a rate of 17,5 ℓ /hour. The difference of 4,1 ℓ /hour over a month of operations would equate to more than R10 000, which the customer must account for when costing operations,” says Haines. b

Smith Power launches new Kubota B26 TLB

Apart from its versatility, the machine boasts a number of feature upgrades that allow it to offer better overall performance.

to offer more power even in constrained workspaces.” Kubota has also increased the stabiliser lift capacity to give operators greater control on any terrain. The improved capacity results in better balance, which reduces unwanted settling. It also means more strength, with rear tyre lift possible while the machine is idling. b

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