The secret to SANY being the fifth-largest construction and related equipment manufacturer in the world is largely due to its strategy of using quality components from leading international Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) like Cummins, with which it has a well-established relationship.
The SANY range of excavators, front-end loaders, graders, and rollers is distributed in Southern Africa by Goscor Earth Moving (GEM), which has made steady inroads into markets as diverse as agriculture, construction and civils, and mining, according to MD Barry Owen. As an example, Owen points to the highly successful SANY SY210 excavator, one of two in the 20 t space, and the second-smallest excavator offered by GEM.
Surprisingly, the SY210 – with a bucket capacity of 0.93 m2 and an engine output of 104 kW – has an operating weight of 20.9 t, which represents a hefty advantage for customers in that they have access to a rugged and reliable machine, at an attractive price as well, and with full technical back-up and support.
The SY210 uses a Cummins 6BT5.9-C140 Type six-cylinder in-line water-cooled engine with a maximum torque of 1 300 rpm. “SANY has a clear drive to use only the best components on its machines, from Cummins to Isuzu and Mitsubishi on the engine side, and Kawasaki pumps on the ancillary component side,” Owen comments.
“If you want to have the best machines, you have to have the best components, which is where Cummins fits into the SANY strategy. Apart from having access to the latest engine technology, both OEMs and dealers are guaranteed parts availability and support in most global markets,” Owen points out. This includes any warranty issues, which gives GEM clients in particular peace-of-mind that the quality SANY range reduces downtime and maintenance, thereby boosting productivity significantly.
Owen has high hopes for the success of the SY210 excavator, which is an ideal machine for smaller clients needing flexibility and maximum efficiency in their equipment. “Standout features are the fact that it is easy to operate, while still being tough and effective. This built-in reliability is mainly due to the use of quality components such as Cummins engines.
Cummins Sales Manager and Earthmoving Segment Leader Bo Fu (Bob) explains that Cummins has a dedicated team at its Johannesburg head office dealing with Chinese OEMs in particular. This includes Business Development Manager Yueqian Zhang (Leon) and Service Engineering Leader Ming Zhang.
“Cummins understands the significance of investing equally in its service support network and in the best engine technology. Very few engine manufacturers come close to Cummins’ global support capability,” Fu notes.
As an independent engine OEM, Cummins itself does not manufacture any equipment itself, but instead enters specific relationships with global equipment manufacturers. “We have the best engine technology in the world, and are embarking on new innovations such as our electrification strategy,” Fu highlights.
From 2.8 litres to 95 litres, the Cummins engine range is sufficiently flexible to cater for everything from bakkies and mini-vans to light-duty, mid-range, and heavy-duty buses and trucks, all the way to construction and mining equipment, as well as marine, rail, and port applications.
In addition, Cummins has the flexibility to cater for specific regional requirements in terms of regional emission standard, fuel/air quality, and customer requirements, etc. Cummins offers from mechanical engines to Tier 1 and Tier 4 Final and Stage V engines. Fu outlines that an OEM like SANY will approach Cummins with its business development plan.
Cummins application engineers specify the best solution, following which the OEM assembles the entire machine, which is then exported worldwide. “Here in Africa our relationship with SANY is therefore with its regional head office. Once the equipment arrives here, all engines are registered with Cummins, so they can enter our system for warranty and repair purposes,” Fu adds.
With Africa being primarily an importer as opposed to manufacturing its own equipment, a large number of global OEMs have equipment on the continent. This gives Cummins, in particular, the leading edge in terms of service support, due to its wide coverage in the Africa and Middle East region, consisting of 117 sales and service locations, as well as its Regional Parts Distribution Centred in Johannesburg, and large pool of trained service technicians.
Cummins’ customer support capability extends beyond a successful engine installation. Regardless of where the application is running, there’s a Cummins location nearby. Cummins technicians can offer parts and service support anywhere around the world, where and when the customer requires it.
Another unique service that Cummins offers dealers like GEM is a Dealer Certification Programme, whereby it trains OEM technicians to a standard where they can carry out any warranty-related repairs., which increases the response time and effectiveness of the OEM in servicing its own customers.
The end result is a win-win situation for the entire supply chain, from component manufacturer to OEM and dealer. “Our job is to represent SANY in Southern Africa, and to develop an equipment pool that reflects the quality of the brand, and its suitability for our arduous operating environment. The fact that Cummins has enjoyed a 30-year relationship with SANY to date is testament to this ongoing success story,” Owen concludes.
