Chinese truck manufacturer supplies Pretoria-based machinery company

23rd August 2013

  

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Polson Vervoer, which hires tippers, water tankers, graders and rollers reports that, since acquiring its first Powerstar truck eight years ago, it now has 20 in its ever-burgeoning fleet and is pleased with its performance.

The company says nearly half its fleet carries the arrowhead logo of the trusted Chinese Powerstar brand and that the trucks have been an important contributor to its success.

Based in Pretoria West, Polson Vervoer hires out machinery to customers such as mining operations across Gauteng and the North West and beyond. Its clients include machinery company Phoenician Earthworks & Demolition, demolition and roadworks company Zero Unlimited Earthworks & Excavations and the Tshwane City Council.

Polson Vervoer sole owner Derick Polson founded the company in 1994 after working for more than a decade for a earth- moving plant and truck hire company that was successful in its own right, Leithcons Machinery, owned by his father Leith Polson.

“Plant hire is in our blood,” says Polson, adding that he, his father, and his brother are all in this line of business and, apart from being family, perhaps the most important thing that they have in common, in terms of their businesses, is their absolute belief in Powerstar.

Polson bought his first Powerstar truck in 2005 and was so impressed with the performance of the vehicle and the service and support he received from Brits Powerstar dealer Deon van Rooyen that, a few years later, through Van Rooyen, he bought 12 Powerstar trucks from a plant hire company that was going out of business. In December 2012, Polson added another four Powerstar trucks to his fleet and this year he bought six more.

“I will keep on buying Powerstar because they are great trucks and well priced. They don’t have complicated electronics and are easy to service and repair, when necessary, wherever we may be in the country,” Polson says, adding that the trucks can do any job as well as any expensive truck brand he has owned.

Polson states that, in the case of some other brands, if there is a problem, there is a lot of downtime, as customers have to wait for spares, which are “usually expensive”. He adds that it is often difficult to repair the problem because of the complicated electronics.

With Powerstar, downtime is virtually eliminated, says Polson. Firstly, the vehicles are strong, rugged and reliable and, secondly, because they are mechanically simple, his team can often do repairs on the spot. “In cases where we need spares, they are easy to get hold of through our Powerstar dealer and, importantly, they are reasonably priced,” he says.

Polson’s main Powerstar choice is the 2628 VX 6 × 4. This is one of Powerstar’s most popular sellers, says Polson, adding that, like the entire VX range, it is a superior design that Powerstar’s research and design engineers fast-tracked to capture more of the off-road market.

The Powerstar 2628 features an improved cab design, including air conditioning, an external sun visor and driver-seat suspension, which “provide our drivers with greater comfort and, therefore, boosts their productivity”, says Polson, noting that as the truck uses the renowned, powerful and compact Weichai engine, the truck’s torque output and workhorse capabilities are unquestionable.

“Polson Vervoer has grown steadily in the past decade, having consistently secured new contracts since inception,” notes Polson.

Today it employs 221 people and runs a fleet of more than 43 vehicles. To cope with the growth, Polson recently invested in new offices, which are built adjacent to his large yard, which he shares with earthmoving equipment company Leithcon.

“Our business is thriving,” notes Polson, who explains that the Pretoria West facility is a constant hive of activity, adding that, while the economic environment has been tough for a few years, the company has continued to grow because of the good service it delivers and the relationships it has built, including with Powerstar Brits.

Powerstar SA CEO Bob Wang says he is delighted with the relationship between Powerstar Brits and Polson Vervoer. “When there is a genuine partnership between our dealers and their customers, the customers are able to get the best out of our unusually reliable and tough vehicles. “In this way, there’s a win-win situation created for all involved,” he says.

“During 2012, we expanded our team of engineering and technical experts to enable the delivery of high-end consultation with respect to early technical troubleshooting and solutions. This has paid off significantly, with our reliability levels, which are world class, improving even more,” says Wang.

He adds that some suppliers are based at the Powerstar Pietermaritzburg plant to expedite and resolve any required technical changes with their corresponding operational division in China. “In this way, we are constantly able to ensure that our vehicles keep up to date with the demands of local businesses and the local environment in general,” says Wang.

Edited by Tracy Hancock
Creamer Media Contributing Editor

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