ON THE GROUND
second machine about six months ago —
when the older machine was three years
old. “The older machine has almost 4 000
hours on it. This is quite a lot for a three-
year-old machine, but keep in mind that
it starts at 07:30, and some nights only
switches off at midnight — which is an
18-hour shift for the machine,” stresses
Cordier.
Davy adds, “We would never have
bought a Dezzi if we didn’t think it would
do what we needed. Keep in mind, we’re
a small company — an over one-million-
rand purchase is a big deal for us. And
for us, investing in Dezzi twice, says
something. The second machine is used
for other warehouse operations. Our
contract renewal with our client is coming
up shortly, and the client has asked for
reassurance in terms of capability, and
we are able to provide it because of our
second Dezzi purchase as backup.”
Customisation
A major benefit of Dezzi being a South
African manufacturer, is that clients can
visit the factory in Port Shepstone and
discuss any customisations with the
Dezzi engineers to suit their specific
application.
Davy says that Octo-Logistics is very
happy with Dezzi’s flexibility and the ability
to adapt the machine to their needs. “We
paid the factory a visit before purchasing
our second Dezzi and went through the
process of identifying and discussing our
needs to suit our specific applications, and
Dezzi customised all of this for us. This
included the new cutting edges. Another
example is the pins on the bucket that
were being compromised by dust; this
was resolved through innovative thinking
from Dezzi,” says Davy.
“As a small company investing in
two machines, we wanted to do our
homework. At the factory, we went
through the production process; we
wanted to know every part of the
process, starting with production on a
machine, spray-painting, where the parts
come from, until the machine rolls off
the assembly line. That way, when we’re
back on site, if anything goes wrong, we
at least have an idea. But Dezzi is always
just a phone call away,” enthuses Davy.
Training
“When we bought our first machine,
Dezzi was on site to train our
operators. They went through a training
programme: how to do a checklist;
what to check in the morning, what
to check at lunchtime — water, oil,
greasing — how to operate, what
not to do in terms of abuse on the
machine,” says Davy.
This kind of ‘day-to-day maintenance’
goes a long way. “We have to give
credit to Octo-Logistics for maintaining
their own machine and for looking after
it, making sure their operators do their
checks in the morning,” says Gutzeit.
After-sales service
Davy says their Dezzi is a strong machine
and they haven’t had any major issues
with it. “We have a Dezzi service
technician, Marcel Snyman — he is
based at Dezzi’s Johannesburg branch in
Sebenza, Edenvale. Dezzi is always quick
to send a mechanic around whenever we
need one.”
“But we look after the machine and
conduct routine maintenance on site
— we keep it clean, check the filters,
grease the pins every day. Especially
with the type of product we handle, we
have to look after the pins and bushes,”
adds Cordier.
Due to the harsh application, the bucket’s cutting edges were wearing at a
considerable rate. Dezzi solved the problem by redesigning a new, stronger cutting
edge.
24
MAY 2019
Dezzi Sebenza has a full workshop —
parts, stockholding, service technicians
— services are done on site, or for major
services, the machine is booked into the
workshop.
Davy concludes that another major
attraction to Dezzi is that there’s no
electronics. The drivetrain is simple; it’s
an engine with hydraulics. Fitted with a
JCB 444 turbo engine, which offers 75kW
at 2 400rpm, the 7.1t loader is known for
its simplicity of the drivetrain and carries
a one-year, 2 000-hour warranty, except
for the sturdy chassis which carries a
5 000-hour warranty. Extended drivetrain
warranties are available.
So, it’s through Dezzi’s simplicity,
customisation, and ‘built Africa tough’
approach that Octo-Logistics is able to
increase productivity for higher return.
About Desmond Equipment
SA
The Desmond Group of Companies
has been in business since 1973
and is renowned, in the past 24
years, for the manufacturing of
South African-designed Dezzi
equipment. The first front-end
loader rolled off the assembly line
in 1996.
Desmond Equipment SA’s head
office and factory are based in Port
Shepstone, and aftermarket service
is offered nationwide in southern
Africa into sub-Saharan Africa with
strategically placed branches and
dealers.
The machines manufactured at
Dezzi’s Port Shepstone factory
include:
• Articulated dump trucks;
• Articulated haulers;
• Rigid hauler tractors;
• Front-end loaders;
• Skidders;
• Cane loaders;
• Motor grader (7.5t); and
• Three-wheel loggers.
These machines and various
customised earthmoving equipment
are earmarked for the cane, forestry,
sugar, plant hire, construction,
building, mining, and quarrying
industries.
The company recently signed an
agreement with Merchant West and
is able to offer competitive tailor-
made financial solutions to existing
and new customers.
www.plantonline.co.za