PRODUCT FOCUS
in Europe and the Unites States, most of reliability. Similarly, in the OEM market, Variocontrol on rollers uses GPS
our compaction equipment in South Africa several providers of low-spec machines coordinates to obtain the location of
uses Tier 2 or Tier 3 engines. have entered the fray, muddying the the roller and records the number of
waters for the well-established OEMs who passes made and the compaction effort.
that is available in our markets. If fuel quality base their sustainability on high-quality, Hanekom adds that the introduction
can be improved, and guaranteed, more durable machines that are backed by a of oscillating rollers sees the advent of
environmentally friendly engines will be complete support system. a different type of excitatory system,
“It all comes down to the fuel quality
On a more positive note, the technology
imported,” Fennell points out.
which provides a kneading effect, as
has vastly improved with the introduction opposed to an impacting effect
currently on a drive to ‘go green’ and, in of advanced petrol and diesel engines on surfaces.
line with this, have requested we provide that consume less fuel, thereby moving a quotation for a LP gas-operated tamper. closer to compliance with international This option would be ideal for use in environmental regulations.
“Interestingly, the City of Joburg is
When compared to
the international
trenches where people are working in
close quarters,” says Hanekom.
While diesel engines emits
approximately 15% more greenhouse
gases than petrol engines, multi-cylinder
low-revving diesel engines consume far
less fuel than petrol engines and it could
therefore be argued that they are in fact
more environmentally friendly.
Over the past five years, there have been
several significant changes within the
compaction market in South Africa. From
a plant rental company perspective, the
market is being flooded by opportunistic
companies with dubious stockholding,
coupled with limited serviceability
A market in flux
In South Africa,
walk-behind rollers
remain popular,
unlike the overseas
markets where
these rollers have
been replaced by
reversible plate
compactors and
ride-on rollers.
capabilities and reduced equipment
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