Modern Quarrying Q1 2019

As quarries strive to compete in tough business conditions, investment in new equipment takes on a more important role. End users now need to evaluate everything that surrounds the product – from financing and insurance through to maintenance programmes and specialised remote services – in addition to the normal productivity and cost savings calculations already commonly used. With its total solutions approach, Scania South Africa has every parameter covered. By Munesu Shoko . SCANIA’S TOTAL SOLUTIONS FOR QUARRIES L i ke most things in today’s world, purchasing mining equipment – especially hauling gear, which fulfils a crucial role in the mining value chain – is becoming more complex. In a tough economic environment, investing in such big-ticket, high-value assets can be a stressful endeavour as it ties up capital for long periods of time, and the longer the period, the greater the uncertainty and risk involved. Consequently, it must be done correctly the first time, as mistakes are not easily rectified. In the decision-making process, one of the critical considerations should be the ability to source all the end user’s needs from a single supplier. It’s much simpler in the long run to deal with a single provider. Having to purchase equipment and solutions that drive your business from different suppliers and being serviced by a myriad of service providers can be time-consuming and costly. Working with an established supplier of Scania’s stature means quarry owners have access to a sound product, in-house financing, insurance, reliable and flexible support, as well as the parts and technological solutions they can depend on for maximum uptime. This requires a great deal of experience in navigating the ever-growing pool of suppliers, along with answering many critical questions you may not even know how to ask. Many equipment suppliers regard themselves as “one-stop shops,”

TOTAL SOLUTIONS

but are they really? A true one-stop shop is where the customer has one contact on campus for everything they need. That contact is the person who then speaks to everyone else within the organisation to orchestrate the deal. At Scania South Africa, customers have one contact for everything, making the company a true one-stop shop. Scania for every mining stage From a product perspective, Scania offers a full range of trucks that can work across several application areas within the quarrying environ- ment. There is a Scania for every stage in mining, all the way from in-pit applications and outbound hauling to service vehicles and concrete mixers. The first area of application is in-pit mining. Profitable in-pit mining operations are about hauling as much material as possible at the lowest cost. “The key to mining profitability is all about controlling capital and operating costs. It pays to take a look at our solutions. Many times the lower total operating costs of our vehicles outweigh the benefits of conventional, over

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MODERN QUARRYING QUARTER 1 - 2019