Strategic fleet management is a critical driver behind Cementation Africa’s ability to deliver safe, efficient and flexible underground mining and shaft sinking projects.
By combining contracting expertise with strong in-house engineering capability, the company ensures that equipment selection, maintenance and utilisation are closely aligned with project requirements.
According to Arthur Adams, Manager Engineering at Cementation Africa, the company’s approach to fleet ownership allows it to respond quickly to operational needs while maintaining strict performance and safety standards.
“The balance between owning this strategic fleet and operating client-owned machinery gives us flexibility without the financial burden of depreciation of an underutilised equipment base,” Adams says.
Cementation Africa’s strategic fleet includes essential assets that support infrastructure development and shaft access work, such as winders and flameproof equipment used in specialised applications like box-cut development in coal mining. This carefully structured approach supports long-term cost efficiency.
“This disciplined approach directly supports our goal of achieving the best total cost of ownership for the fleet,” he says. “Intermediate and major rebuilds are timed strategically to maximise uptime while controlling long-term capital and operating costs.”
Productivity and cost control are further supported through the company’s use of historical data and proven formulas to determine optimal manning levels and maintenance cycles.
A key strength of Cementation Africa’s operating model is its in-house engineering services and rebuild facilities near Carletonville in Gauteng. Here, both company-owned and client equipment are refurbished to OEM specifications.
The facility also houses the Cementation Africa Training Academy, reinforcing the company’s focus on skills development and operational excellence.
Fleet decisions are made collaboratively and tailored to each project, according to New Business Director Graham Chamberlain.
“For each contract, we assess the mining method, production requirements and site conditions before selecting the most suitable equipment in conjunction with the client,” Chamberlain says. “In some cases, we purchase the equipment on behalf of the client, while in others the client procures this directly and we operate the equipment on their behalf.”
Although the equipment is ultimately owned by the client, Cementation Africa’s early involvement ensures it is fit for purpose.
“There is usually a waiting period for new equipment, so we build this into our project planning,” he says. “When clients do not have early access to equipment, we use ‘bridging’ equipment which are typically used items and can often negotiate with OEMs for the timeous supply of equipment.”
This flexible, data-driven fleet strategy enables Cementation Africa to maintain safety, control costs and adapt quickly to the unique demands of each underground mining project.