From Caterpillars to the Confederations Cup

SDV’s projects department clearly
thrives on challenge – and
the movement of Caterpillar
equipment from Durban to the DCP
mine in Kolwezi, DRC recently was
evidence of this.
The 3 500 km journey included
narrow and unsteady bridges when
available, and barge crossing
when not.
Added to the mix were gigantic
muddy potholes where trucks would
have sunk without graders and
backhoe loaders.
“And if the poor infrastructure
was not enough, the size of some
of the equipment presented its own
challenges,” Jacques Baudelot, SDV
commercial manager, told FTW.
“The largest piece could not be
moved as a single load and had to
be dismantled and distributed among
several loads.
“The four RH340 excavators (540
tons) were transported as 17 loads while
the 230 ton bulldozer was moved in
eight,” he said.
Despite the challenges, the
equipment reached its destination in
pristine condition.
Closer to home the company has been
involved in several Fifa-related events.
For the Confederations Cup SDV is
moving 150 containers of marquees,
tents, toilets and stadium equipment.
“It’s a real challenge,” says Baudelot,
but moving the equipment from Europe
and China to designated sites at very
short notice is part and parcel of what
SDV's project department is all about.