ON THE GROUND
The powerful engine and large bucket combination means fast operation and high efficiency.
Commenting on the decision to opt for
SANY equipment, Yuan highlights that
comparative brand research conducted
by AMG, necessitated by the significant
capital outlay of this acquisition, revealed
that SANY was both cost-competitive and
it featured superior performance.
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“In addition, the backup service and
technical support we receive from GEM
Kathu is excellent. The professionalism
of the service team, combined with the
ready availability of spare parts, also made
a good impression,” Yuan adds.
Plant Equipment & Hire caught up with
GEM Kathu acting branch manager Rudi
Burger, to garner his views and insights
into this significant deal. Burger stresses
that AMG is the kind of blue-chip mining
client likely to give the SANY brand good
legs in the Northern Cape region.
With a rated power output of 298kW, a dig
depth of 8 255mm, and a bucket breakout
force of 275kN, the SANY SY500H is
ideal for heavy-duty mining operations.
“The powerful engine and large bucket
combination translates into fast operation
and high efficiency,” says Burger. Burger
highlights that technical advancements to
the model include a slightly bigger engine,
ensuring better breakout forces and better
fuel efficiency. “With fuel costs being
one of the biggest overheads of mining
companies, or any plant company for that
matter, fuel efficiency has become one of
the major concerns for our customers,”
he says.
Additional features include a removable
counterweight that reduces travel
restrictions and cuts transport costs, while
the large engine compartment facilitates
maintenance. Service cycles are extended
even further due to long-life oil and filters.
The optimised cabin ensures maximum
operator comfort, visibility, and safety.
Burger adds, “We have found that
the main benefit of the SANY brand
for our mining customers is that, being
highly price-competitive, they can easily
afford new equipment, and enjoy all the
latest technological developments and
refinements that SANY is renowned for.”
Burger further explains, “As the fifth-
biggest OEM in the world, SANY is able
to remain price-competitive because
SANY’s ‘bulk’ and efficient production-line
ultimately translates into fewer costs —
and our customers benefit from that.”
Furthermore, GEM Kathu efficiently
manages the balance between backup
service and technical support as an after-
sales service, since, firstly, being based
in Kathu, they are in close proximity to
their clients. “Our highly skilled, technically
savvy technicians are always on hand for
support. We also have a huge stockholding
JANUARY 2019
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