NEW EQUIPMENT NEWS
Despite tough market conditions,
Goscor Earth Moving (GEM) achieved
significant growth in 2018 and is
poised to extend its SANY range
even further in 2019. This includes the
addition of an even larger excavator.
Currently, GEM offers a 75t SANY
excavator for mining applications
specifically, but MD Barry Owen
reveals that an even larger model will
be available this year. Despite the
continued slowdown in the mining
and construction industries, Owen
highlights that GEM “had a good year
in a bad environment”.
“Remember that we are coming
off of a relatively small base, so the
fact that the market is difficult at
present did not deter our growth,”
Owen explains. This growth has
been exponential, largely due to
the increasing popularity and brand
awareness of SANY in Africa in
general.
“As the fifth-largest construction and
related equipment manufacturer in the
world, SANY is a major powerhouse,
with impressive technology. Coupled
with Goscor and the Bud Group, that
makes for a formidable combination,”
Owen stresses. “My message to all
potential SANY customers is simply
to talk to us, as we are here to find
the optimum solution for your specific
requirements.”
Owen says, “The recent acquisition
of Goscor by the Bud Group really
reinforces the balance sheet. We
are a highly entrenched business
with an extensive history, having
been around for 35 years. Goscor
now has additional financial muscle
behind it, without impacting on the
entrepreneurial nature of the business.
Hence it is very good to have the Bud
Group on-board with us.”
Looking at current challenges,
Owen says a key concern is the
fragmentation occurring in the mining
and construction industries, where
major contracts are being awarded
to smaller empowered ‘start-ups’
without major track records or even
assets. “Here we have an opportunity
to ensure we deal with the correct
companies in this regard,” Owen
reiterates. What gives GEM a distinct
advantage in the marketplace is both
its access to funding and capability
to assist in securing the necessary
financing.
14
APRIL 2019
GEM grows SANY range even further
Currently, GEM offers a 75t SANY excavator for mining applications specifically.
GEM’s strategy for 2019 will continue to
focus on its main areas of excavators,
front-end loaders, graders, and rollers.
“We do not foresee dramatic growth in
any of the major industry sectors next
year. It will probably be a bit better, but
only marginally so. I think it will be more
of a year of recovery. Hopefully we
should see some improvement in 2020.
“Generally speaking, we will see
ongoing growth in the SANY business,
as we continue to gain traction.
Therefore, we are quite excited about
2019. Despite it being an election
year, with anticipated stagnation
surrounding major decisions on
infrastructure spend, the period
immediately thereafter will probably
see some tough decisions being
taken that will spur on an economic
recovery,” Owen opines.
Another development on the
cards for 2019 is to showcase the
SANY SY335 34t excavator as an
intermediary machine for mining,
construction, and agriculture. “This is
a highly versatile excavator with broad
application,” Owen notes. It reinforces
GEM’s proposition of offering flexible,
cost-effective equipment tailor-made
for harsh operating conditions.
“SANY has been built specifically
to be able to operate in Africa. For
example, the SYL956 front-end loader
is billed as being ‘ready-made’ for the
continent. This is a simple machine
with no over-abundance of electronics,
meaning there is little that can go
wrong with it. In addition, SANY only
uses top-quality components from
leading international OEMs,” Owen
emphasises.
The focus on quality goes hand-
in-hand with the current trend of
reducing operating costs to boost
the bottom line. “Of course, that is
a function of what you pay for the
machine, the cost of running it, and the
cost of the finance. Given the current
state of the market, this is where a
lot of emphasis is being placed at
the moment. There is less attention
being paid to developments such as
emissions standards. It will follow in
due course, but it is not a driving force
as of yet,” Owen concludes.
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