Manufacturing solutions, not products

Municipalities are under increasing pressure to ensure the distribution of basic resources that citizens depend on like water, electricity and refuse removal.

One of the major challenges facing municipalities in South Africa is ensuring that all households within their areas of jurisdiction are provided with a basic level of waste service. Huge waste service backlogs still exist in the country, resulting in delayed or noncollection of residential waste in the country’s major metros.

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa under Section 24 of Chapter 2 – the Bill of Rights – stipulates that everyone has the constitutional right to have an environment that is not harmful to their health and to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations through reasonable legislative and other measures that: a) prevent pollution and ecological degradation b) promote conservation c) secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development. However, due to rapid urbanisation and increased population, municipalities have experienced greater challenges in ensuring that these basic needs are met. According to the latest statistics, South Africa generate roughly 122 million tonnes of waste per year. Of this waste, a maximum of only 10% is recycled or recovered for other uses, while at least 90% is still landfilled or dumped illegally.

600SA, a proud distributor of Orakci refuse compactors, asserts that one of the many factors that hinders effective municipal waste management is the inability to effectively service and maintain existing waste collection fleets. This is due to limited spare truck availability, which makes maintenance and servicing of parts expensive.

This in turn has led to municipalities having to buy new refuse compactors; however, due to the lack of government funding, expanding a fleet also becomes a challenge. Sonia Pretorius, national sales manager at 600SA, says to ensure that municipal waste is handled and managed properly, there needs to be superior-quality waste management equipment.

“With 60 million South Africans producing on average 1 kg of waste a day, imagine if this waste is not being disposed of regularly. Our refuse compactors form part of an environmental cycle to ensure the safety of our community and the longevity of our environment.”

Superior service

For more than 50 years, 600SA has been distributing premium industrial and material handling equipment for industries requiring lifting and loading, and waste equipment. It offers best-in-class equipment from prominent global manufacturers including CT Power, Orakci, UniCape and TUF Forklifts. In addition, lithium-ion battery technologies are offered through the division’s Industrial Power product range.

600SA has been in existence since 1968 and forms part of CFAO Equipment SA. It offers a complete solution for all material handling and waste management needs. Through a diverse industrial equipment product offering, 600SA offers lifetime value for its customers.

In terms of waste management, 600SA is a proud distributor of Orakci’s ORV series of refuse compactors. Orakci is a global producer of truckmounted waste collection and special service equipment products and offers the ORV series, which is ideal for clients operating and requiring type management services.

“Our ORV series of hydraulic refuse compactors is suitable for businesses looking to build or improve their waste management equipment with a truck that carries higher volumes of waste, thus reducing the number of trips to be made and thus improving productivity in other areas,” says Pretorius.

The ORV series, which works based on operating with a container or manual rear loading, can meet the needs of their customers with the rear loader refuse equipment.

ORV series

In the South African climate, waste compactor trucks require more than the amazing capacity to offer the best performance.

The ORV waste compactor truck series –which includes the ORV-419 and ORV-313 – is designed to be tough and provide safe and efficient performance.

With a corrosion-resistant steel body for reliable durability in the harshest climates, the ORV series provides easy and safe crew passage between stops and offers the best performance and safety features.

The ORV compactor series offers a total capacity ranging from 13.5 m3 to 29.5 m3, including the body size and hopper capacity. The Orakci ORV series offers the best waste management solution for your retailer and wholesaler waste disposal needs.

“Our refuse compactors are assembled locally. We are very fortunate to have highly qualified artisans, technicians and welders who are passionate about quality and their attention to detail is something that we very proud of. With over 50 years in this business, we have seen skills being transferred from generation to generation, and some of our wonderful employees has been with us for over 30 years,” boasts Pretorius.

The compactors are designed to accommodate rough terrains with minimal electrical components that can be damaged by uneven road surface and landfill sites. Due to the nature of the waste, the tailgate hopper (back end) is manufactured from Hardox 450 steel, as it is exposed to abrasion.

Refuse discharge times are between 42 and 46 seconds, which saves the operators valuable time to leave the landfill site as soon as possible.

Custom solutions

When asked what makes the Orakci ORV series better than what is currently in the South African market, Pretorius says the company does not focus on selling products, but rather solutions.

“This has been proven by means of the simple, effective and user-friendly design of our refuse compactors. We sell solutions, not products. For example, we discuss the needs of the municipality and contractors; once we have assessed where the units will be working and the challenges they face, we customise the unit to suit the landscape, infrastructure and sites they will be working on,” says Pretorius.

A recent challenge that one client was faced with was the lack of maintenance on trees on the residential roads. When the truck is collecting domestic waste, it must pass underneath tree branches that are hanging over the edge of the pavements. This causes the top part of the refuse compactor to get damaged, especially if there are mechanics, such as a top reeve system, on the roof of the compactor.

“We have customised our units to have protective steel cages and steel covers to avoid vitally important hydraulic hoses and electrical wires getting damaged. This might be a minor change; but if this gets damaged, then the refuse compactor will not be able to load or dispose of the waste at the landfill site.”

A global approach

600SA’s refuse compactors operate in all eight metropolitan areas in South Africa, either directly through the municipality or via appointed subcontractors. Additionally, the company’s equipment also operates in over 200 local municipalities in South Africa, says Pretorius.

“They are, however, not limited by the South African borders; our refuse compactors are also being distributed into sub-Saharan Africa. Zimbabwe is one of the countries with the highest utilisation of our refuse compactors.

“We are in negotiations with various role players that will offer us the opportunity to boast seven distribution and service centres in Zimbabwe,” concludes Pretorius.