ELB Equipment has over the years thrived on its best-of-breed approach, which has seen the company offer a comprehensive range of leading OEM construction, mining, earthmoving and agriculture equipment, designed to enhance productivity, efficiency, and safety, from a single trusted supplier. The company’s partnership with Sumitomo, which began in 1984, fits perfectly into this approach.
The Sumitomo range of tracked excavators has been built for use in various applications, from small-scale earthmoving and construction applications, to large-scale, heavy-duty mining projects. The range includes the SH210-6 with a 21-t payload, SH260-6 with a 26-t payload, SH300-6 with a 30-t payload, SH350LC-6 with a 35-t payload, SH490LHD-6 Mass with a 49-t payload, SH700LHD-5B Mass with a 70-t payload, and the SH800LHD-5B Mass with a 80-t payload, all of which are available from ELB Equipment’s ten branches located throughout South Africa and the company’s Southern African dealer network.
The robust range of excavators has powerful, yet fuel-efficient Isuzu engines, combined with advanced hydraulic systems for smooth operation in demanding digging and loading operations. The excavators are also equipped with a rugged undercarriage for improved mobility and stability and locally made, robust general-purpose buckets that have been developed and made to withstand the tough African operating conditions and applications. The buckets can also be modified to suit customers’ specific requirements.
Moreover, the excavator cabs were designed not only for operator comfort and usability but also with operator safety as a key priority. The spacious and comfortable air-conditioned cabs have an adjustable seat, improved operator visibility and are equipped with a locally-fitted window guard.
Meeting the needs
Gavin Baard, area sales manager at ELB Equipment, tells Quarrying Africa that the 21-t Sumitomo SH210-6 excavator, while the smallest in the range, is the flagship excavator within the range. It is also the one in highest demand within the domestic market, followed by the 26-t and 30-t excavators. This is due to their versatility in application in several sectors, ease of manoeuvrability, ease of transport and fuel efficiency, he says.
These smaller payload excavators are also the preferred size within the domestic quarrying sector, Baard adds.
Despite this, Baard notes an increasing trend in enquiries by customers for larger-sized, higher payload 70-t and 80-t excavators. However, these larger excavators are being received primarily by the mining sector, he says.
Maintenance and support
Besides enhancing overall productivity, efficiency, and safety for users, Baard says Sumitomo’s excavators are aligned to the domestic market’s need for affordable yet reliable, high-quality equipment, with dependable 24/7 aftersales service and consistent parts and maintenance availability and support.
In response to this, ELB Equipment maintains a 24-hour turnaround time in any breakdown situation and carries the critical Sumitomo excavator spare parts at its branches for more efficient servicing and maintenance, explains Baard.
Baard says that while the maintenance frequency depends on the operating conditions and usage intensity, service intervals take place after every 500-hours worked. “These intervals help to extend productivity, improve equipment availability, limit downtime due to unexpected and unanticipated issues and ultimately ensure the excavator is able to work for its over 20 000-hour lifespan,” he highlights.
Connectivity imperative
In terms of the growing industry-wide trend towards connectivity and real-time monitoring of equipment, and as part of the aftersales service offering, Sumitomo’s equipment can be monitored via the company’s G@Nav real-time information management system. This system uses GPS satellite tracking to transmit data from the excavator to the Sumitomo Data Centre.
The interactive and downloadable G@Nav application enables customers to receive equipment information such as location, fuel level, equipment utilisation and operation data, performance data and diagnostic trouble codes, allowing the customer and supplier to monitor and maintain the equipment more effectively.
Collaboration is key
In acknowledging the collaborative nature of its partnership with Sumitomo, Baard said ELB Equipment prides itself on the longstanding partnership, which is entrenched in both companies’ belief in ensuring customer satisfaction by innovating to meet customers’ specific requirements.
“Our single supplier philosophy has meant that we can offer a comprehensive array of best of breed equipment that can be tailored to suit our customers’ specific needs from one trusted and knowledgeable supplier. This ensures streamlined and efficient equipment management and service support for our customers, thereby increasing their productivity and in turn fostering longstanding client relationships,” explains Baard.
“It also provides our clients with peace of mind that the OEM equipment we have assembled is in fact market-leading equipment,” he concludes.
