[ NEWS ]
KUBOTA
U50
Swings it for Pipe Jack Gauteng
Civil engineering company Pipe Jack Gauteng (PJG), which is one of the important role
players in the Pipe Jacking and Horizontal Boring Industry in South Africa, reports its Kubota
U50 compact excavator is performing according to expectations in the pipe cracking and pipe
laying contract for Rand Water Board.
Pipe Jack Gauteng’s Kubota U50 compact
excavator at work on the pipe cracking and
pipe laying contract
“T
his particular job
required a powerful
excavator that was
no more than 5t in
weight. So, we
bought the Kubota U-50 and its
performance has been excellent,” says
Morris Valente, CEO of Pipe Jack Gauteng.
He adds that the power-to-weight
ratio of the Kubota U50 is outstanding.
“This is exactly what was needed on this
job and the zero boom and tail swing
feature adds to the machine’s
appropriateness for these conditions.”
Valente emphasised the excellent
service he has received from Kubota’s
Charl Kemp. “Downtime is expensive in
my game and Charl and Kubota have
been a great help to us,” he says.
PJG, which undertakes a wide range
of work in the industry including pipe
jacking, pipelines, pipe cracking,
10 | HIRE SA | MAY 2017
demolition and more, says that its
mission is to provide tunnelling and
engineering solutions to its clients, whilst
maintaining a lasting relationship and
enabling sustainable growth. “We are
committed to building a competitive
organisation with a sound value
system based on respect for all people
both in our organisation and out,”
concludes Valente.
In its 40 years’ involvement in the
mini-excavator industry, Kubota has
continuously set the standard with
technological innovations. The
integration of the zero boom and tail
swing was one such innovation. Others,
which also helped create the future of
compact construction machinery,
included the pioneering, advanced
features of Auto Idle, which helps save
up to 10% fuel; a digital LCD panel and
the Kubota Intelligent Control System
(KICS), which help reduce downtime
and save on repair and technician
costs; and Kubota’s revolutionary “three-
pump” hydraulic system, which uses
three independent pumps for boom,
arm and swivel for more efficient
bucket operation.
Kubota compact excavators are
used the world over in a variety of
construction applications including
agricultural jobs, road-building,
municipal works, pipe-laying,
landscaping, water conservation
projects and more.
“Our Kubota compact excavators’
characteristics of being tough, reliable,
efficient and easy to operate and
service, enable them to work in the
toughest conditions and take on any
challenge,” says Tom Bloom Smith Power
Equipment general manager
construction equipment division.