Lifting to new heights

Saxeni Equipment, Southern African dealer for Sany cranes, has just sold the first SPC320 (32t Upper) mounted on a Hino 700 truck chassis in South Africa. Lifting Africa spoke to Director Johan Meyer to find out more about this sale as well as some exciting new developments in the company.

New solutions for new challenges in new environments. That is what crane manufacturers and dealers have to perform in the modern market. For the Saxeni team, this is not a difficult request as they pride themselves on delivering just that no matter what. “In the current market environment and on the construction projects there is a lot of emphasis on finding bespoke solutions that meet clients’ exact needs. Not all technologies work on the constraints that we see at some sites and there is no onesize-fits-all approach that can be taken,” says Meyer. “The emphasis is therefore very much on being able to come up with solutions in unique and new ways. The current requirements for cranes are changing and so we have to continue to be innovative in our approach making sure that we are complying with the specific requirements that our clients have.” It was with this in mind that Meyer and his team set out to find a solution for longstanding client ST Crane Hire. “We required a smaller machine that had an automatic gearbox to accommodate the new generation of operators that are not used to the manual shift machines,” says ST Crane Hire Managing Director Ricky Rogerio. “Working closely with Saxeni and after some discussion about our requirements, they offered us this solution.” Of particular interest, says Rogerio, was the boom length of the crane as well as the compactness of the unit. “With a 32t lifting capacity and its main boom being 32m long it was an easy choice to make,” he says. “The decision to opt for the Hino chassis was based not only on the fact that it is a solid and trustworthy brand, but also that it could

accommodate the weight and the design of the crane.” Rogerio says it was important that Saxeni understood their requirements and went out of their way to find a solution that met their needs. “This crane will be used for day-to-day jobbing mainly on construction sites where size and compactness matters.”

Customers take centre-stage

Quality service, says Meyer, is one of the most important competitive factors in today’s business industry. “Our service promise to our clients is at the top of our priority list,” says Meyer, who ranks a solid aftersales service higher than the quality or price of equipment. “We have never been in the business of just selling cranes. We have a strong relationship and commitment to our clients. At the heart of every sale of a crane is the promise that we will deliver that crucial aftersales service.” It is a promise he extends to every client regardless of the size or amount of business. “Whether we sell one crane or 20 to a client, we guarantee an aftersales service and parts at all times.” The company, at any given time, holds more than R20 million worth of stock. “The goal is to ensure that our clients are serviced quickly and efficiently to ensure they have as little downtime as possible on their cranes.” It is this service delivery, in particular, says Rogerio, that has established the longstanding relationship ST Crane Hire has developed with Saxeni. “The service along with the spares support were important elements when we chose our crane supplier,” he says. “The honest relationship built over the years from the day we bought our first Sany has also played a role.” Meyer says Sany is fast gaining track in the local market. “The cranes are reliable, durable, and safe and have solid lifting strength. Combined with the aftersales service and spare part support we offer these cranes are becoming renowned within South Africa and neighboring countries.” They are also priced extremely competitively. “Our cranes are not necessarily the cheapest but they are incredibly competitive in the market.”

Growth strategy

Meyer is intent on growing the local Sany crane range. Having just delivered the first Sany SPC320 to the market, he is already working on bringing three more new cranes into the country. The STC600T5 and SAC600E are next on the agenda. “We have also taken a big step and are bringing in the new all-terrain crane with a lifting capacity of 250 tons. The SAC2500E is a game changer for us.” He says extending and diversifying the range of cranes the company offers is an important strategy going forward. “Sany is a relatively new player in the crane market. Although it is the fifth-largest manufacturer of yellow machines in the world, it only started manufacturing cranes around 20 years ago.” “Since then, massive inroads have been made as the cranes are gaining popularity thanks to the durability, reliability and price competitiveness of the equipment.” According to Meyer, they continue to earn the respect and confidence of their rapidly growing client base. “Our goal is to make Sany a household name in Southern Africa,” he concludes.

Saxeni,

+27 (0) 11 823 2038, info@saxeni.equipment, www.saxeniequipment.co.za