By maintaining high uptime and longevity, a fleet of LiuGong CLG856H wheeled loaders is winning the day for a Mpumalanga, South Africa-based aggregates producer. Established in 1996, Afrigrit initially specialised in producing sandblasting sand from slag, a by-product of the steel industry. The slag is sourced from Ferrometals, one of the largest individual ferrochrome plants in the world, which produces charge chrome for steel markets.
Over the years, the company has expanded its scope, including the recovery of chrome from slag and eventually production of aggregates for various industries, such as road construction, brick manufacturers and concrete producers, among others.
Metallurgical oxide slag has stone-like properties; thus, its major applications are in civil engineering. Due to the high cost of natural stone and the rising emphasis on sustainable construction, the construction industry in this area is using these aggregates as a viable alternative.
To execute its mandate, Afrigrit has erected a processing plant at the Ferrometals dump to process the slag. Part of the plant recovers the rich material, which is transported to Afrigrit’s premises to produce sandblasting sand. The other part of the plant recovers chrome for Ferrometals and also produces varied sizes of aggregates for the local market.
Marius Pick, logistics manager at Afrigrit, says maintaining optimal equipment availability is key to ensuring continuity in achieving production targets. Therefore, reliable and consistently available equipment is non-negotiable. This is exactly what a fleet of LiuGong wheeled loaders, supplied and supported by Burgers Equipment & Spares, offers at this 24/7 operation.
Afrigrit bought its first LiuGong wheeled loader in 2008 and never looked back. The company has standardised its loading fleet with the LiuGong CLG856H model, with eight currently running in its fleet. The decision, says Pick, has paid dividends, with these machines providing availability of about 80%, working around the clock.
“We run a 24/7 operation throughout the year, even during the festive period in December. Uptime is especially important for us, and the decision to standardise our fleet with LiuGong wheeled loaders has paid dividends. In addition to 80% availability, capital and running costs are competitive,” says Pick.
Of note is that two of the current eight loaders have already clocked over 30,000 hours, translating into about 4,300 hours a year or 360 hours a month. This feat speaks directly to the durability and reliability of the machines and, more importantly, to the stringent 250-hour service intervals maintained since their acquisition in 2017. The two machines are expected to continue operating reliably well into the future.
“Being proactive in our heavy equipment maintenance has helped prevent expensive downtime and to extend equipment life. Our machines are serviced by the dealer, Burgers Equipment & Spares, at OEM-recommended maintenance intervals of 250 hours. This means that each machine is serviced at least once a month,” says Pick. “In addition to routine maintenance, the machines are subjected to a 2,000-hour major service.”
The 250-hour routine maintenance also allows Burgers’ technicians to spot potential problems before they escalate into major failures. Corrective actions are taken immediately to ensure the reliability and performance of machines.
While the stringent service strategy keeps machines in great working shape, Pick points out that this is achievable only when parts availability and dealer support are non-issues. This is where Burgers Equipment & Spares has excelled, even going the extra mile to meet Afrigrit’s needs.
“Parts availability and good response times from Burgers Equipment & Spares are key to the success of our operations. Burgers is very much on top of its game. We have never had issues regarding spares availability since we have dealt with them,” he says. To further ensure maximum equipment uptime, Afrigrit also keeps critical spares on site, such as water pumps and prop shafts.
One of the major factors in the decision to purchase LiuGong loaders was the price point, says Pick. He says that the LiuGong offering is competitively priced, yet it boasts a range of tried and tested components that make it competitive in arduous mining conditions.
The LiuGong CLG856H wheeled loader is a 17-tonne (t) machine with a 5-t lifting capacity and comes standard with a 3m³ bucket. The machine has a ROPS & FOPS cab, ZF transmission and ZF limited slip differentials.
“The powertrain, for example, comprises a 6LTAA9.3L Cummins engine, Kawasaki pumps and a ZF drivetrain. These are not foreign to us; these are components we understand and trust, and are well equipped to service them,” says Pick.
With efficiency in mind, the LiuGong wheeled loader is powered by the latest fuel-efficient Cummins engine, delivering a net-power rating of 160kW (215hp) at 2,000 rpm. For operational efficiency, the engine uses a precise, high-pressure, common-rail fuel injection system, turbocharger (VGT), air-to-air intercooler, and electronic engine controls to deliver optimal performance in every cycle in every shift.
A special focus on the well-being of operators ensures not only high productivity but also equipment longevity. “Operator welfare is particularly important to us. We always ensure that air conditioners are in good working condition,” says Pick. The LiuGong CLG856H comes with an advanced climate control system with eight all-around vents, five selection modes and 6kW of cooling capacity, creating the perfect working environment whatever the weather.
Afrigrit’s machines are equipped with mine-spec LED lights, which produce stronger light, and the lifetime is much longer than the standard halogen. This is handy for a 24/7 application where downtime related to any light-changing exercise is unacceptable.
“We are very happy with our decision to opt for LiuGong wheeled loaders. The machines tick all the right boxes for our operations. With that said, every machine is only as good as the service support behind it, and Burgers Equipment & Spares has surpassed our expectations as far as their aftermarket support is concerned,” concludes Pick.
