VEHICLES & EQUIPMENT
Leveraging Industry 4.0 for a post-Covid-19 recovery Highly respected since 1842, CASE continues to grow its market share globally in the highly competitive infrastructure and allied segments. IMIESA talks to Graham Forte, Divisional MD: Construction Equipment at CNH Industrial AG & CE, about the local product mix, new machine launches, and the roadmap going into 2022.
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ASE forms part of CNH Industrial, the multinational umbrella entity for an integrated range of OEM brands serving the agriculture, construction, commercial, specialty vehicles and powertrain sectors. Today, it is one of the top capital goods companies worldwide. In January 2021, CNH Industrial concluded an agreement to buy out specific South African dealerships held by Capital Equipment Group, a division of Invicta Holdings. This included CNH Industrial’s acquisition and absorption of CSE – a CASE Construction Equipment distributor – and Northmec – a CASE IH agricultural distributor. “CASE Construction Equipment South Africa is now the direct OEM interface for our wellpositioned network of branches, dealers and sub-dealers,” explains Forte. “We’ve also ensured that our CASE management structure is lean and responsive to maximise the customer experience.” Historically, the CASE IH range has been one of the mainstays of South African agricultural production and this has had a positive spinoff for CASE earthmoving machines within this brand-loyal sector. The balance of the
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IMIESA November/December 2021
The 22.2 t CX 220C LC is designed for tough applications like quarrying, forestry, roads, earthworks, and general construction
customer base is diverse, covering the civils, building, quarrying, mining, municipal and plant hire markets. The CASE network is supported by approximately 55 CASE dealers nationally. As an OEM, CASE continues to build on its core products – with examples including its backhoe loader, wheel loader, skid steer, and excavator lines – to design and deliver according to customer demand.
Excavator segment In the hydraulic excavator market, CASE fields machines with approximate operating weights starting at 12.6 t and topping out at 80.3 t. The full range is available locally, determined by regional customer interest. In South Africa, the excavator segment accounts for around 950 units annually, according to Construction and Mining Equipment Suppliers’ Association (Conmesa) data. Within the product mix, the 20+ t utility class is perhaps the most fiercely contested, accounting for some 40% of total units sold. “We see the 20 t to 35 t operating spectrum as a major growth area for CASE and are supporting this drive by introducing new products. Our most recent launch is the 22.2 t CASE CX 220C LC
model unveiled in October 2021,” says Forte. “It’s a high-production machine with a proven track record and it comes to market at a competitive price. This is an especially important consideration for contractors working within the presently cash-constrained construction sector.” Manufactured at CASE’s plant in Pithampur, India, the CX 220C LC is designed for tough applications like quarr ying, forestr y, roads, earthworks and general construction. Power is delivered by a fuel-efficient FPT engine, with three power modes to match application requirements. Technology within the machine lets operators store up to 10 auxiliar y hydraulic flow and pressure settings to allow for easy switching between different attachments. Throughout the process, the proven CASE Intelligent Hydraulic System delivers constant machine control with unrivalled energy and fuel savings in all cycletime phases. On the ground, the machine features increased plate thickness on HD structures, which improves durability. The long undercarriage also offers increased stability on the toughest terrain.
