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.