Construction boom ticking up

Any major construction company or contractor serving the construction industry will confirm that the economic fortunes of those involved in this fascinating and compelling industry run in cycles. As it is in any economic boom every up tick is followed by a weaker period when fortunes are not so easy to make.

Currently the construction industry in South Africa, like many other countries, is experiencing one of the largest booms seen in many years. Apart from the progressive growth that flows from the country's growing economic activity over the past 27 quarters - the longest economic upswing for more years than most people can remember - government spending is driving the construction and civil engineering segments even harder. A mammoth amount of money (>R400 billion) is pouring into upgrading the national infrastructure.

Full order books
Contrary to popular opinion, especially from the media, the current boom is not just about preparing for the 2010 World Cup. Significant and reliable logistics surveys conducted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the University of Stellenbosch and Barloworld Logistics convey many optimistic views. A meaningful percentage of CEOs and senior managers contribute to these annual surveys in which they express their confidence that the construction industry will continue for quite a few years after the final whistle blows at the 2010 World Cup.

Even a brief enquiry into key and related industries serving the construction world reveals full order books, lengthening delivery dates for equipment and materials and yes, a shortage of skills, particularly among senior technical managers.

However, this has not dampened optimism or enthusiasm among any number of construction companies, large or small, who have identified numerous exciting opportunities to get into the business for the first time or expand the business they already have. The opportunities most likely to succeed reside in contracting or sub-contracting for the haulage of aggregates, cement-bagged, bulk or ready-mix, rubble removal, transporting bricks, timber and other building material on to sites or delivering fuel, bitumen or water. There is a need for transporting general supplies, personnel and providing emergency vehicles.

Not eight to five
That there is potentially an abundance of opportunities to work in the broader construction industry, does not mean it is an easy job where you can become instantly rich. It is hard work and it is definitely not an eight-to-five job. If it is your intention to engage in tipping operations, there are several important aspects that need to be considered before deciding the type of vehicle you require to do the job properly. With this basic information it is helpful to assess the type and size of tipper needed to haul the minimum payload for the entire contract period at an acceptable cost.

• Better-than-average payload
• Ability to maintain acceptable average speed when fully laden
• Cost-effective operations expressed in cents per hour
• Acceptable useful life and ultimate resale value to ensure continuity

Which type of bin?
Articulated tippers are best suited to haul coal, sand, aggregate and other materials in larger quantities than can be achieved by conventional on-road rigid tippers. When configured in aluminium, Domex, or other lightweight steels, payloads are usually better than average.

Good driving and operating skills are essential if your tipping operations are going to be trouble-free and safe. Conduct a comprehensive survey of the job to be done as outlined for rigid tippers. Discuss your ideas with other operators and some of the more respected tipping trailer builders to gain first-hand feedback of their knowledge and experience, before finalising your decision on the bin.

Time is money
To meet current market expectations transport contractors need to shake off any illusions they may hold that ageing equipment or cheap under-
specced replacements are fine for getting the job done as cheaply as they can. The name of today's game (regardless of the size or type of construction project) is speed, reliability, on-time payload and lowest cost. The high initial cost of an articulated tipping vehicle is expensive. There is no room for mistakes when it comes to choosing the right unit.

Construction projects are time-sensitive, especially large ones. Failure to meet agreed performance levels or complete jobs within the agreed timelines tends to swallow the expected profits and bedevil the cash flow at an alarming rate. It is therefore important to observe the basic disciplines inherent in construction work.

These aspects emphasise the need for equipment availability and its reliable performance within the projected operating costs to achieve the financial success of the project and indeed the ultimate survival of the business. This scenario is superbly illustrated when considering the dynamic roles concrete mixers and boom pumps play in modern construction projects.

New vehicles
This is why major suppliers of aggregate, ready-mix and bulk cement favour new vehicles for their contractors. They are aware the initial cost of equipment is an important consideration when accepting a contract.

However, contractors and subcontractors do not always give sufficient thought to the importance of vehicle availability and performance. It is safe to say that success and survival in the highly competitive and difficult operating environment will largely depend on guarding against breakdowns or, any other reason vehicles are off the job. Access to service, maintenance and technical backup regardless of where the construction site is situated are important considerations. Tippers and mixers need regular maintenance according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Comprehensive range
Over many years Mercedes-Benz has developed what can easily be described as the most comprehensive range of vehicles suitable for operating under South Africa's diverse and often harsh conditions. Read elsewhere about their well-suited range of chassis for use as rigid tippers, cement mixers, truck-mounted cranes or pumps.

Adding service
As important is the comprehensive suite of services available from the manufacturer. These include competent and experienced personnel to advise users and franchised dealers when choosing the right vehicle for the task. They can work out vehicle performance and operating cost calculations, while the strategically located dealer organisation is properly equipped to provide extensive maintenance facilities and technical backup. A comprehensive replacement parts inventory at commercial vehicle dealerships and access to advice and assistance in respect of financial and insurance requirements from DaimlerChrysler Financial Services, are additional bonuses.

In the construction business, mediocrity is no longer tolerated. Today it's all about payload, speed, flexibility and continuity in your operation while a useful vehicle life and a contract beyond 2010 should guarantee a strong survival rate.

It is clear to see that the latest additions to the range of Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles are born to build. Weighing in at a Mercedes-Benz Vito one-tonner, with a gross vehicle weight of less than 2.8 tonnes, these beasts now go right up to the four-axle Actros heavy-duty truck in the 250-tonne category.

Over many years Mercedes-Benz has developed what can easily be described as the most comprehensive range of vehicles suitable for operating under South Africa's diverse and often harsh conditions. These vehicles include an extensive range of chassis for use as rigid tippers, cement mixers, truck-mounted cranes or pumps. An equally comprehensive range of truck-tractors ideally suited to work with articulated
side- and end-tipping trailers are readily available.

With the additions to the range, volume-production solutions as well as special-purpose vehicles are now well catered for and tailored transport solutions are found even in the smaller vehicles. The remarkable Telligent automatic transmission is now available on vehicles widely used in construction projects.

Sprinter and Vito models are finding favour with contractors, surveyors and site personnel as small tippers and personnel and general service vehicles. But, as is to be expected, the mainstay of the construction portfolio are the range of Atego, Axor and Actros trucks highly suited for their task and with some built-in futuristic content. This is evident in the sophisticated technology such as environment-conscious, emission-controlled engines and exhaust gas recirculation, as well as light-weight chassis that can maximise legal payloads.

Drive concepts
Determine the drive formula first says Mercedes-Benz. The application that is required by the customer for these hardworking trucks will establish if, for example, a 4x2 semitrailer tractor for high payload requirements is required or rather - for those who need more off-road use - a four-axle model with 8x4 all-wheel drive. For those with more universal needs, the trusted Actros three-axle 6x4 tipper is still a highly recommended vehicle. For light-duty applications on surfaced roads, the Axor, which is now also available in a version with four axles and four driven wheels, is the best choice from the range.

When a truck-tractor is needed that can regularly cope with more demanding terrain, an Actros heavy duty truck-tractor should be considered. Thanks to the robust chassis with heavy duty steel suspension, this tractor unit can master more arduous terrain than a standard air-suspended vehicle.In light-to-medium-duty applications the standard formula for the four-axle model is 8x4, while 8x8 is unbeatable for heavy-duty applications. 8x6 is also available as an alternative. A size smaller, but slightly more versatile, is the classic three-axle model. The classic tipper is a far more common variant here than it is with the four-axle model. The 6x4 features as the bread-and-butter tipper in many fleets, seen as a truck-tractor – generally with a tridem semitrailer.

The Axor variants on the other hand can cope with unsurfaced tracks at the loading or unloading site, but that is where the traction reaches its limits. For more arduous transport tasks on rougher terrain, there is the four-axle model, a large solo vehicle. The lower payload versus the truck-tractor and semi-trailer means that it is not by nature the optimum choice for strictly on-road applications, but it is a genuine alternative for mixed on and off-road usage and more restricted application conditions.

Atego
A broad engine range covers a broad output spectrum from 125 to 205 kW, while extensive standard equipment makes this the safest truck in its class. The Atego is available as a 4x2 tipper, an all-wheel-drive tipper, a skip loader or a tipper with a crane. In addition, the Atego is also available in short and long wheelbase versions for other purposes, e.g. water tankers and flat-deck applications.

Various frame strengths are available to cater to a range of operational conditions. All-wheel-drive variants with greater ground clearance can be fitted with a lower step on the driver's and co-driver's side, which yields on contact with rocks on rough terrain, preventing damage to the vehicle.

At a glance

• Compact cab with an extended rear panel
• Crew cab for a total of up to five people (optional)
• Practical stowage facilities including an A4 stowage space on the instrument panel
• Easy-to-reach control elements
• Optional air conditioning
• Pneumatically adjustable steering wheel (tilt and height)
• The door control panel includes all of the functions for adjusting and heating the mirrors, power windows, central locking
• Three engine sizes
• Precision-tailored transmission with six or nine gears
• Disc brakes at the front and drum brakes on the rear axle
• Routine checks can essentially be carried out from the driver's seat

Axor
The Axor's lightweight tippers and concrete mixers offer customers in the construction industry an impressive financial advantage. After all, increasing cost pressures mean that payload optimisation is becoming an ever more crucial factor for those involved in the aggregate and concrete supply trade.

These siblings of the Actros are more accustomed to large amounts of time on the road. There are 4x2 truck-tractors with air suspension, and heavy-duty rigid vehicles with two, three or four axles and a permitted GVM of between 18 and 35 tonnes. Payloads vary from 23 to 35 tonnes.

The three- and four-axle Axor trucks for construction-site applications are in a different payload league from the extra-heavy duty Actros models. This is achieved by using weight-optimised parabolic springs at the front, bumpers made from impact-resistant synthetics with a swivel step and maintenance-friendly disc brakes on selected models and drum brakes on others.

At a glance

• Standard cab has extension behind the seats to increase stowage
• Good through-access
• Optional exhaust mounted between the second and third axles
• 16-speed transmissions and robust HL7/HD7 planetary axles
• Combination of disc or drum brakes
• All steel-sprung variants are fitted with parabolic springs, standard shock absorbers and stabilisers are specially tailored
• New models in this range are the 1823AK/36 (4x4), 3335K/36 (6x4) and the 8x4 model

Actros
The Actros construction-site vehicles have become synonymous with robustness, reliability and off-road capability. The technology and equipment incorporated confirm the suitability of these models for extra-heavy work from the powerful, high-torque, economical V6 and V8 engines and the extremely sturdy frame to the highly robust planetary axles for optimum ground clearance. The range of variants offers the right chassis type for every application - whether it be a tipper, a concrete mixer/pump or a truck-tractor.

At a glance

• Standard cabs are comfortable
• Broad range from 20 tonnes to 41 tonnes GVM
• Variants come with a choice of two, three or four axles
• Five power outputs spanning the range from 230 kW (313 hp) to 450 kW (609 hp)
• Standard medium-length cab can have a folding bed as an option
• Spacious L-sleeper cab on selected 3-axle truck-tractors
• Standard air conditioning
• Illuminated, non-slip steps (a standard feature on the tippers and available as an option for other models)
• Multifunction steering wheel
• Air-sprung driver's suspension seat and a practical fold-up seat on the co-driver's side
• Power windows, electronic adjusting and heating of the mirrors
• Telligent gearshift integrated in the armrest of the driver's seat
• 12 and 16-speed transmissions for great climbing ability and a low manoeuvring speed
• Front axle load compensating system on the four-axle models ensures the required traction, both when moving and when braking
• Brake system configurations specific to operation

Handy hints for haulage
Regardless of the material to be hauled there are several basic steps that must be taken before deciding which type and size tipper will be best suited to the task being considered.

Experts in the industry suggest that these steps should include:

• The mass of material to be hauled measured in tons per cubic metre or some other relevant measurement. In the case of sand consider the difference
  in mass between dry and wet sand.
• The minimum legal payload expressed in tonnes (mass) and cubic metres (volume) you will be asked to haul in terms of a contract you may be considering.
• How far must you travel from the loading point to unloading point? Take note of road conditions, gradients and traffic densities.
• Workload - the number of cubic metres to be hauled per hour or other required timeline in terms of the contract.
• Loading/unloading - determine the method of loading and unloading, and the type of equipment used. Visit both sites to gain a proper understanding of the working conditions (not forgetting the surface conditions at both points). Try to estimate what the waiting time will be at both loading and unloading. This can be important when calculating the cycle time and the number of loads that can be achieved during the working day.
• Give thought to how and when the haul distance may change as the project progresses. Items to consider here depend on the task and include the vehicles's power-to-mass ratio (which ensures ability to achieve acceptable average speeds at lowest operating gear); ground clearance; cab characteristics
  such as durability, ease of entry, comfort, and visibility.
• In terms of the load body, choose a specification that is best suited to cope with material to be hauled - lightweight material, floor thickness, tailgate or scowback are examples.
• Determine degree of manoeuvrability needed on the sites.