ON THE GROUND
The top two factors
for companies
purchasing plant
equipment to consider
are, firstly, backup
service, and secondly,
operating costs.”
26
JANUARY 2019
The SANY SY500H is ideal for heavy-duty mining operations.
TECHNICAL DATA
Model
SANY SY500H
Operating mass (kg)
49 500
Std bucket capacity (SAE heaped) (m ) 3
Reach at ground level (mm) 11 860
Max digging depth (mm) 7 490
Max dumping height (mm) 7 450
Bucket breakout (curling) force
(SAE rated) (kN) 287
Make Isuzu
Net power (SAE J 1349) (kW @ rpm) 300kw@ 1 800rpm
Length (transport position) (mm) 12 095
Width (overall) (mm) 3 360
Ground clearance (mm) 500
Track length on ground (mm) 4415
Max speed (km/hour) High 5.4km/h – Low 3.1km/h
Tail-swing radius (mm) 3765
South African distributor Goscor Earth Moving (GEM)
3
for these machines. As units are sold into the
area, we ensure that we always have stock of
parts,” says Burger. “Our service department
is permanently on standby — should it ever be
necessary for a mine to extend their shifts, and
if assistance is required during that time, we
offer a 24-hour service,” he adds.
Burger says that the top two factors for
companies purchasing plant equipment to
consider are, firstly, backup service, and
secondly, operating costs. “Without backup
service, a customer’s machine could stand for
days on end, which is highly unproductive. It is
important to have the right parts in stock and
the right technical staff to assist at all times.”
Burger adds that operating costs, such as fuel
efficiency and the cost of parts, are another big
consideration when purchasing equipment.
Burger is optimistic in his view of trends
in the plant equipment space over the next
two years. He says there is a definite upward
spiral — especially with SANY’s expansion into
the market in the Northern Cape; which carries
huge potential. SANY is not well known in the
Northern Cape, but through word-of-mouth,
and with AMG being a big role player in the
area — and subsequently acting as a kind of
ambassador for SANY products through their
purchases — others will tend to follow their
trend. Added to this, the rise in manganese
and iron-ore prices means that new mines are
being set up, which results in an increase in
plant equipment sales and rentals.
Burger is of the opinion that global trends
have a huge effect on the plant equipment
arena locally. “South Africa is not as developed
as many of the big players in other countries,
but GEM Kathu has a marketing team as
well as a technical team who are constantly
monitoring global trends, and in so doing, we
are able to keep up with the latest technical
advancements and innovations, and bring
them home,” concludes Burger. ■
Rudi Burger, GEM Kathu
www.plantonline.co.za