Construction World March 2018

bauma CONEXPO AFRICA

Strong FOUNDATION for success Mahlaka Lukas Makuwa, owner and MD of Mafate Business Enterprises, primarily a mining supply company that owns 50% of ML Phadima Construction & Projects, relies on FAW trucks to get the toughest of jobs done.

the aftersales support we provide, which includes technical training; driver training; fast and effective parts supply; and maintenance and service through our dealer partners,” he concludes. 

H aving put FAW to the test in 2014, Makuwa was convinced they were the trucks best suited to his operations and needs, and today he runs nine FAW vehicles – three FAW 35.340FC 8 cube mixers, two FAW 33.330FC 6 cube mixers, two 35.340FD 15 cubic metres tippers, and one each of the FAW 33.340FD 18 cubic metres and 20 cubic metre tippers. He says he monitors his transport operations on a cost-per-hour basis and ensures wherever possible that they run at full capacity or capability. “I like the FAW trucks because they are strong, no- nonsense trucks. They are tough and work hard, like me,” he says. Makuwa is not the only operator to be tickled by the delights of FAW. In 2016 FAW South Africa supplied 35 mixers and tippers to the Scribante Concrete fleet, with an additional 22 in 2017 which brought the total number of FAW’s used by that company to 111. The FAW units acquired included 43 FAW 35.340FC 8 m 3 mixer trucks, 12 FAW 33.330FC 6 m 3 mixer trucks, and two FAW 28.280FT side tipper trucks. “We’ve been running FAW mixers and tippers in our fleet for three years now,” says Troy Petzer, operations manager at Scribante Concrete. Technical training, driver orientation and testing, as well as 24/7 parts supply, was provided and guaranteed by FAW SA. “This was a crucial element in our purchase decision,” motivates Petzer. The demand on the FAW truck fleet will be for maximum uptime, easy and efficient driving, highly effective parts supply, and lowest cost of operation. Specialised truck modifications – required and designed by Scribante – were incorporated and approved by the FAW SA parent plant, and applied to the mixer trucks, chassis and mixer bodies. These specifications can be applied to the manufacturer’s ready-mix concrete mixer trucks, as required. Ready-mix trucks FAW provides purpose-fit mixer trucks able to run cubic payloads of either 6 m 3 or 8 m 3 with the FAW 33.330FC and the FAW 35.340FC respectively. The mixer trucks can conquer the rigors

of any building site. There are few mixers to match FAW strength and long-lasting working capability. Both mixer models offer easy driveability because of a strong chassis frame, the high standards of all materials and processes used in the manufacture of the truck, the drivetrain and the mixer body. The operating profiles of the FAW mixers are excellent – especially considering their good fuel consumption figures, whether driving or idling, low mechanical wear and tear, and their durable hydraulics systems. Tippers Exceptionally robust chassis and build materials are the cornerstones of FAW tippers, which provide consistently good service on even the meanest of construction sites. Sites with treacherous entry/exit slopes, dust, stones and uneven terrain challenge most trucks. FAW tippers can handle the toughest of environments. The FAW tippers range includes the popular FAW 15.180FD and 16.240FD with a 6 m 3 load capacity, the 28.280FD with a 10 m 3 load capacity and the FAW 35.340FD with a 15 m 3 load capacity. Whether it’s the 6X4 or the 8x4 tipper respectively, a FAW tippers can provide what any construction project demands. Supporting FAW’s uptime promise is a host of aftersales back-up services, and maintenance and parts supply through a wide dealer network. Last year, FAW SA’s Coega-based factory witnessed the 3 000 th locally built truck roll off the production line. Inaugurated in 2014, the plant was recognised and awarded the 'Global Distributor of the Year' award in 2017. FAW Trucks “At FAW we will keep focusing on the construction industry, as one of our most important customer segments. We have enjoyed good support for our durable range of mixers and tippers,” says Cheng Zhang, Marketing and Strategy Manager at FAW SA. “The all-rounder FAW 8.140FD – which incidentally is one of the lowest cost-per- ton vehicles in the heavy-weight segment – has also enjoyed strong uptake from the construction industry. “Many of our customers have praised

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD MARCH 2018