S
andvik’s Mining and Rock Technology is
the second-largest of the Group’s business
areas, and South Africa and Zimbabwe
account for approximately 80% of global sales
of its low-profile mining equipment.
In light of the significance of the southern
African market, Sandvik recently launched
a South Africa-based manufacturing facility
focusing on producing its latest offering for
the southern African market: the robust,
reliable five-tonne low-profile Sandvik LH115L
load-haul-dump (LHD) machine, designed for
demanding African conditions.
After identifying the opportunity to support
local industry through local manufacture and
the localisation of machines, Sandvik’s newly
unveiled manufacturing facility in Jet Park, close
to Johannesburg, will initially be responsible
for the complete production of the Sandvik
LH115L for the African — and global —
market, a move that will also support both local
employment and local suppliers.
Rugged workhorse
The LH115L loader is cost-efficient and durable,
and has been developed and optimised for local
mining conditions, primarily targeting platinum
and chrome mines. It is also the first Sandvik
product to be manufactured locally, using local
suppliers, locally sourced components, and local
employees, with training programmes in place to
ensure skills transfer.
The LH115L is based on a previous Sandvik
loader that was very successful in the South
African market: the EJC115. The new machine
is a product of extensive customer consultation
during the design process to ensure that it is fit
for purpose. As to what makes it stand out from
competing products, Mats Eriksson, president
for Product Area Load and Haul at Sandvik
Mining and Rock Technology, highlights
the local content, safety aspects, and ease of
maintenance. “The fact that our customers
are out in force today, shows that we really
have delivered a machine that meets market
requirements,” he says.
Sandvik CEO, Björn Rosengren, concurs. “I
met a number of customers who were really
happy with the consultation process between
them and the design team — who travelled
out here to South Africa for workshops and
consultations to get a deeper understanding
of both market needs and the environment
— because it would ensure that the machine
fulfilled the market requirements.”
Building on the proven capabilities of its
predecessor, the LH115L comes with the latest
safety features and complies with the latest safety
requirements. It is easy to maintain, resulting in
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