Home FleetWatch 2017 Scribante adds another 35 FAWs to its fleet

Scribante adds another 35 FAWs to its fleet

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The new FAW units in the Scribante fleet include 27 FAW 35.340FC 8m3 mixer trucks, six FAW 33.330FC 6m3 mixer trucks, and two FAW 28.280FT side tipper trucks. This brings to 89 the total number of FAWs in the fleet.
The new FAW units in the Scribante fleet include 27 FAW 35.340FC 8m3 mixer trucks, six FAW 33.330FC 6m3 mixer trucks, and two FAW 28.280FT side tipper trucks. This brings to 89 the total number of FAWs in the fleet.

Scribante Concrete has added another 35 FAW mixers and tippers to its fleet bringing FAW’s representative total in that fleet to 89 units.

Scribante Concrete, a division within the larger Scribante Construction Group, has expanded its reach in Gauteng with the commissioning of two concrete batching facilities – one in Muldersdrift and the other in Laezonia. Going into operation at the West Rand batch plants, the new FAW units include 27 FAW 35.340FC 8m3 mixer trucks, six FAW 33.330FC 6m3 mixer trucks, and two FAW 28.280FT side tipper trucks.

Troy Petzer, operations manager for Scribante Concrete, says: “The Scribante Construction Group saw the opportunity, crunched the numbers and with careful consideration and planning, decided to invest and expand our Gauteng footprint. We had the chance to acquire the sites for our batch plants. Based on a 50 kilometre radius for delivering our time-sensitive product, we secured suitable construction contracts to support our growing business as well as enough future prospects to validate our decision to strengthen our position in Gauteng.”

On the decision to go for FAW, Petzer says they have been running FAW mixers and tippers in the fleet for close on three years. “Based on the total cost of ownership calculation, together with superb aftermarket service and support, our choice fell to FAW as we replaced older vehicles in the fleet and started equipping for the West Rand plants.”

“Besides the vehicles, we’ve refurbished and installed the batching plants, appointed a management team for sales and customer contact, done staffing for concrete production, also for our maintenance and service workshop, and acquired drivers for our new extended fleet. In total we’ve created over a dozen new jobs so far with this expansion.”

As done in the past, Scribante Concrete will attend to basic service and maintenance on the vehicles on-site. “To this end we’ve appointed two technicians,” says Petzer. “All technical training, driver orientation and testing, as well as 24/7 parts supply is provided and guaranteed by FAW SA whom we’ve come to trust. This was a crucial element in our purchase decision.”

Other Scribante concrete production sites in Gauteng are based in Midrand and near Kyalami Business Park. Past projects served from these sites include the upgrade of both N2 and N3 freeways, and supplying concrete for a tunnel section of the Gautrain project between Malboro and Linbro Park.

Not prepared to disclose the planned output for the West Rand plants, Petzer was willing to say that the volume targets are ‘aggressive’ and will demand superior customer service on the part of Scribante. In turn, the demand on the FAW truck fleet will be for maximum uptime, easy and efficient driving, highly effective parts supply, and lowest cost of operation.

“With respect to our transportation requirements, we have ‘walked the road’ with FAW and ironed out many bumps. Our relationship today is a highly collaborative one.”

The specialised truck modifications required and designed by Scribante have been incorporated by FAW SA into their offering. “These specifications can be applied to the benefit of other FAW clients for their ready-mix concrete mixer trucks,” says FAW regional manager, Vernon Rudman, who is the main point-of-contact for Scribante Concrete.
“The changes requested by Scribante were approved by our parent plant; applied to the mixer trucks, chassis and mixer bodies. The continuous improvement we were able to incorporate once again underpins the value of pursuing and maintaining a close relationship with a customer. They know their business best and we know our trucks best. Together we can improve and provide solutions that satisfy our customers’ needs,” says Rudman.