INDUSTRY INTELLIGENCE
The 76t SY750 has greater breakout
forces and digging depths for larger
mining operations.
Excavators from Sany, distributed locally by
Goscor Earthmoving (GEM), are ideal for
arduous mining applications such as iron
ore, chrome, and manganese, says GEM
sales consultant Murray Leith.
According to Leith these are strong,
reliable machines with simplified electronic
components giving you minimal downtime.
Leith adds that GEM has qualified service
technicians in all major mining areas.
An example of GEM’s recent successes
in these mining segments include supplying
two Sany SY335 medium excavators to a
chrome mining contractor in Limpopo. In
the Northern Cape, the Kathu branch is
heavily involved with major mining houses
for their manganese operations.
In tough operating conditions,
equipment must be robust, which is where
Sany’s philosophy of using only world-
class components like Isuzu engines and
Kawasaki hydraulics comes into its own.
With an emphasis on cost-effectiveness,
the Sany SY335C medium excavator
features an auto deceleration system that
reduces fuel consumption by 5% to 10%.
When an operation stops for 3.5
seconds, the engine speed drops
automatically to idle level, and maintains
this idling state. The strengthened structure
makes it an efficient and robust machine
for a range of applications. The dual-pump,
dual-circuit constant power control system
means that the Isuzu engine outputs a
continuously strong operating force.
Other excavators in the range include the
50t SY500H and the 76t SY750, both with
greater breakout forces and digging depths
for larger mining operations. Additional
features to boost productivity include bigger
buckets and increased engine power.
Commenting on the current state of the
mining industry, Leith highlights the growth
Icon gets down to business
Icon Earthworks, part of the Icon
Group, is well on track to complete the
demolition of a number of older buildings
to make way for the expansion of the
Melrose Arch Precinct.
The R2,5-million contract for the
demolition of four buildings was awarded
to the Icon Group by Amdec Property
Developments at the end of November
2019 for completion in March 2020.
Icon is the principle contractor for
the demolition, safety and community
management for the project. The contract
includes the demolition and removal
from site of four multi-storey apartment
blocks situated in the densely populated
area of Corlett Drive. The buildings being
demolished are up to 50 years old and
the form and function of these buildings
have not kept pace with modern trends
and lifestyles. The area that is being
demolished is making way for a super
basement under Melrose Arch as well as
the construction of a mixed-use building
on the site.
“Aside from the usual fierce pricing
competition for projects such as these, we
believe that owning our own equipment
gives us a distinct advantage”, says Wayne
Neary, managing director of the Icon
www.equipmentandhire.co.za
Group. “In addition to this our focus on
sustainable construction practices sets us
apart, all of the building material that we
salvage from this site will be crushed as
aggregate to be used on another site.
Icon’s latest hammers and crushers will
be used for this purpose. “Traditionally
rubble from this type of demolition is
spoilt into a landfill or dump sites. Icon is
providing Amdec Property Developments
with double sustainability savings through
the re-use of the crushed building
material, meaning that they do not need
to import natural aggregate from a quarry,
dramatically reducing the carbon footprint
of the project”, says Neary. Icon deployed
a crusher and a 33-ton hammer/excavator
to do the hard work.
Meanwhile, the company is close to
completing the groundwork for Canyon
Coal Colliery’s extension project near
Delmas in the Mpumalanga province. The
contract awarded to Icon in October 2019,
is expected to be complete in by the end
of February 2020. The extension project is
aimed at increasing the mine’s production
output. Icon made use of a TLB, and End
Loader and an Impact Roller at the Canyon
Coal expansion project.
in contract mining with a high number of
new entrants. “We have found that there
has been an increase in mining activities, as
seen in increased sales over the past few
months.”
This is particularly encouraging given the
slow state of the economy, combined with
the reluctance of banks to finance yellow
metal. “However, we are able to assist
contractors in this regard by having access
to our own in-house finance, which has
proved to be a major differentiator for us,”
concludes Leith.
Kwagga range gets
brand ambassador
Excavators built tough
Kwagga Smith and Hire-It sales director
Richard Fraser
The Kwagga range of small plant from
Tool Time, the sales division of leading
equipment hire and sales company Hire-
It (Natal), has received the stamp of
approval from none other than Kwagga
Smith, a proud member of the winning
South African team that brought home
the Webb Ellis Cup trophy in 2019.
Smith owns a 30ha pecan-nut farm in
Mpumalanga, right next to the farm of
his own father and brother. “I decided
to support Kwagga because I wanted
to promote South African businesses
and quality products,” Smith comments.
Powered by Honda engines, the Kwagga
range is ideal for use in tough South
African operating conditions. This is due
to its durability, in conjunction with Hire-
It’s well-established back-up and service
division offering aftersales support. The
Kwagga range is supplied with a standard
one-year warranty.
“The fact that Kwagga equipment is
assembled locally, and uses Honda engines,
makes the range both affordable and
durable. As a farmer myself, I need reliable
equipment, so that my farm can remain
operational at all times, without me having
to worry about faulty equipment impacting
on productivity and the bottom line,” Smith
explains.
MARCH 2020
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