From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.

Sashnee Moodley:

The mining industry is under growing pressure to improve productivity while reducing operating costs and its environmental footprint. At the launch of its new SRT100S off-highway mining truck, SANY is positioning hybrid technology as one way of addressing both challenges. Shannon De Ryhove has the story.

Shannon De Ryhove:

SANY’s SRT100S is a 95-tonne-payload rigid dump truck, but what sets it apart from conventional off-highway trucks is its hybrid technology.

The company says this combination of technologies can help mining operations reduce costs while also lowering carbon emissions.

According to SANY sales and operations manager Houssein Zhu, rising diesel costs are placing increasing pressure on mining operations and other industries.

He believes the shift towards hybrid and electric equipment will become an increasingly important part of the response.

SANY sales and operations manager Houssein Zhu…

“So I think the future of mining in Africa is definitely going electric. It’s a space where innovation is going to start booming.”

Shannon De Ryhove:

The SRT100S has been developed with efficiency and cost reduction in mind.

Unlike a conventional rigid dump truck, the machine does not use a gearbox. Its electric motor also acts as a braking system, which SANY says can reduce wear on the conventional braking system.

The hybrid drivetrain is only part of SANY’s approach.

The company says it has also focused heavily on technology and after-sales support, with the aim of offering customers a broader solution rather than simply supplying individual machines.

Shannon De Ryhove:

Zhu says SANY’s product portfolio extends across cranes, construction and mining machinery, logistics trucks and green-energy technologies, including energy storage and generation.

But he says the company sees aftermarket support as just as important as delivering the machine itself.

SANY sales and operations manager Houssein Zhu…

“We are providing a solution, not a product.”

Shannon De Ryhove:

For mining companies, the attraction of hybrid equipment is ultimately linked to its potential impact on the bottom line.

Lower operating costs, improved efficiency and reduced emissions are becoming increasingly important considerations as the industry responds to changing energy costs and environmental requirements.

The move towards electrification is unlikely to happen overnight, but SANY believes hybrid equipment can provide a bridge between conventional diesel-powered machinery and the more electrified mining operations of the future.

And as mining, construction and other heavy industries respond to global demand for greater efficiency and lower emissions, SANY expects technologies such as the SRT100S to play an increasingly important role.

Sashnee Moodley:

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy. Don’t forget to listen to the audio version of our Engineering News daily email newsletter.