PRODUCT FOCUS
Plessis of Talisman Hire, agrees and adds therefore a far better option to rent this
that rental rates have not been tracking the equipment than to own it.
increased cost of ownership.
Calvin Fennell, business development
It all comes down to
to the choice of petrol or diesel engines.
manager at Wirtgen South Africa, says: The general consensus is that while
“The roller market at the end of 2017 (371 the cost of maintaining a petrol-driven
units) is sitting at below the sales of 2010 compactor is lower, there are other factors
(381 units). With a high of 592 units in 2013, to consider when selecting one option
the fuel quality that the market has shrunk YoY by an average over the other. A moot issue with larger
is available in our of 11%. The industry is sweating its assets compaction equipment, since they are all
and replacement programmes have been fitted with multi-cylinder diesel engines,
delayed or put on hold.” the smaller plate compactors, reversible
markets. If fuel quality
can be improved, and
guaranteed, more
The downturn has affected the plate compactors, rammers and ride-on
way that end users from construction rollers (up to 2.50 ton) often come in a
companies approach the ownership choice of petrol or diesel engine.
environmentally versus rental alternatives. Emmett points friendly engines will be out that a number of these companies are more expensive to purchase and
geared up when projects were more maintain than petrol engines, but they have
plentiful and added workshops and a longer lifespan. In addition, multi-cylinder
mechanics to maintain the equipment. diesel engines consume less fuel than
Now, faced with a reduced order book, petrol engines. Some mining customers
they are entering the rental market to insist on diesel engines for safety reasons
cover their investment. and ease of refuelling on site. Single-
imported.”
Calvin Fennell, Wirtgen
Du Plessis says that the company
to grow, and the end-user ownership and since petrol engines are cheaper to
market will decline. “Equipment rental purchase and maintain, they are the number
companies will be the largest owners of one choice for many smaller equipment
compaction equipment in the future and applications,” says Du Plessis.
to watery petrol, packs more of a punch
petrol and diesel versions.” in terms of energy per unit of weight than
petrol per litre. So even if it sometimes
purchase option continue unabated, with costs more than petrol, it contains more
both sides promoting their own business potential energy, so less diesel is required
model. However, Johan Hanekom, in terms of fuel to accomplish the same
Bomag product