SDLG wheel loader is top choice for South African tile manufacturer

August 14, 2014

Earlier this year, Marley Roofing, a South African manufacturer of high-quality concrete roof tiles, began its search for a new Wheel Loader to work at its facility in the Ekandustria industrial park in Bronkhorstspruit, 50 km east of Pretoria. The Bronkhorstspruit facility is one of four locations the company runs in South Africa.

Marley wanted a machine that would provide value for money plus long-lasting performance, and turned to Babcock International, South Africa’s leading distributor of construction equipment, for help selecting the right machine. After considering a variety of options for the demanding daily tasks, the company chose an SDLG938L Wheel Loader.

Robust and excellent value

The SDLG938L, with its 3 ton lifting capacity (1.8m3 bucket)is a replacement for an older machine from another manufacturer. It is also Marley’s first SDLG product and Alf Bartosch, factory manager at the company’s Ekandustria facility, said that SDLG’s reputation for value and quality were the biggest influencers in its decision.

“We needed a robust machine at an affordable price,” he explained. “The SDLG938L has been handling tough materials all day round, and has been coping very well. We are extremely impressed by the machine’s performance, and as it’s our only Wheel Loader here we need it to perform as required, and be able to trust its reliability.”

The SDLG938L is helping ensure operations in Bronkhorstspruit move smoothly. It is currently loading sand into bunkers and helping stockpile materials on concrete surfaces at the plant. When the LG938L was delivered, employees at the facility were given specialized training by Babcock to ensure they operate the machine at optimum efficiency.

Although still a relatively recent arrival, so far there has been no unplanned downtime for the SDLG loader, according to Bartosch.

“We have had absolutely no issues with the SDLG938L, and it has been working smoothly since it was delivered,” he says. “We look forward to using this machine for a long time to come.”

Other customers with similar needs to Marley Roofing have been quick to recognize the benefits of the SDLG brand. Grant Sheppard, General Manager SDLG, suggests that the recent success of SDLG machines is due to their versatility and durability, as well as their cost efficiency.

“SDLG has quickly expanded into Southern African markets,” he explains. “It has been enjoying considerable success as a result of customers recognizing the benefits of these robust yet affordable machines. And the feedback we have been getting from new customers like Marley Roofing has been very encouraging.”

Babcock International is the exclusive distributor of SDLG in southern Africa, and was tasked with helping Marley pick the right machine for the job. Founded in 1891, Babcock is a leading engineering support services organization and an established and trusted dealer of construction equipment, supplying to the energy, process, mining and construction industries throughout Africa.

Ends.

For further information please contact:

Grant Sheppard	Rob Baker
General Manager SDLG	SDLG Sales
Tel: +27 (0)11397 1371	Tel: +27 (0)11 397 1371
Email: grant.sheppard@babcock.co.za	Email: rob.baker@babcock.co.za