Engineering News

Kathryn Valdal Engineering News Features Reporter Since the appointment in April of Power Torque as the sole agent in Southern Africa for International Transmissions Limited (ITL) of Wales, the local company has already sold ITL products to Fermel Hydraulics, Bird Machines and Equipment Parts and Engines, Power Torque MD Charles Davidson tells Engineering News.

The agent supplied Fermel Hydraulics with SD80 axles for industrial tow tractors, an SS400 power shuttle gearbox for the manufacture of an underground personnel carrier, and a steering axle for a furnace charger, which is used in ferrochrome plants.

It has also supplied an SS600 power shuttle and PD70 axle to Nelspruit-based Bird Machines for an underground utility vehicle.

In addition, Equipment Parts and Engines has bought two PD55 axles for a front-end loader, called Afri12, which is currently being developed.

Davidson attributes the strong interest in ITL products to the fact that they are manufactured by JCB, which is one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of construction equipment.

He maintains that ITL’s high quality and proved designs, which are m anufactured at its state-of-the-art facilities in Wrexham, Wales, has also contributed to local demand for the products.

In addition, ITL’s high-volume production – 90 000 units a year – has enabled it to offer competitive prices. Furthermore, a new pilot plant, which is the result of a 23 225 m2 extension of the manufacturing facility, is now gearing for full production .

The company expanded its facility abroad to maintain its strong market presence in axle manufacturing and artificial intelligence machine tool centres. ITL, which supplies a broad range of products for agriculture, construction and industrial equipment markets within the 30–90kW power range, was founded in 1985 as part of the JCB group to supply axles, transmissions, powertrains and integrated drivelines for on-off highway applications to original- equipment manufacturers (OEMs) worldwide.

The international company maintains that its integrated drivelines enable OEMs to exploit niche markets without high expenditure on research and development. As a result, prototyping can be scheduled into the OEM’s marketing cycle faster and production streamlined without incurring procurement programmes or compromising customer service and commitment.

Established in 1978, Power Torque offers driveline solutions to manufacturers of construction, mining and agricultural machines, as well as marine transmissions for pleasure craft, commercial and fishing vessels. In addition to supplying ITL products, the company is an agent for Funk Manufacturing, Newage Transmissions, PRM Marine Transmissions, Automotive Products, Quadrastat Corporation and Caerbont Automotive Instruments.

“We are experiencing growth, mainly because our competitive products are displacing those of our market competitors,” enthuses Davidson.

Another factor contributing to this positive trend is that the company is manufacturing larger volumes of automotive axles locally for use in special-purpose vehicles intended for export, he adds.