Cummins provides full power unit packages for pump applications for example
Many of the major Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) that will showcase their latest products at Grain SA’s NAMPO Harvest Day 2019 from 14 to 17 May at Bothaville in the Free State are already key customers of Cummins’ engine technology. These range from international OEMs such as John Deere, Rostselmash, and Apache Sprayers (Equipment Technologies) to local South African OEMs.
This means that, while Cummins itself is not exhibiting at NAMPO 2019 itself, it will still have a significant behind-the-scenes presence, Sales and Earthmoving Segment Leader Bo Fu (Bob) reiterates. “As one of the biggest agricultural exhibitions in the Southern Hemisphere, NAMPO is an important platform for OEMs to launch new products, as well as to display their full product line-ups for the farming community.”
The agricultural industry falls under Cummins’ off-highway engine range, and represents one of its major growth areas at present. From engines and power units to gensets and filtration products such as oil, air, fuel, and lubricant filters, Cummins supplies its customers here with complete solutions. In addition, it offers full aftermarket support across the entire Africa and Middle East region.
“We have five branches in South Africa alone, and at least one branch or distributor in every African country where we are present. These all have technicians and an extensive spares stockholding on hand. This is a major advantage for us in the region, as not many other players have such an extensive footprint,” Fu notes.
“We supply engines to many agricultural OEMs that assemble their machines locally, with integration assistance from our application engineers in identifying and testing the correct engines required. We also stock engines locally for direct-replacement purposes for those OEMs who import equipment. Lastly, a major advantage for us in the region, and which gives our customers confidence in the brand, is our extensive technical back-up and support,” Fu explains.
Another area where Cummins has a huge advantage is in providing full power unit packages for pump applications. It can supply mechanical and electronic engines, as well as the cooling system, air intake, exhaust system, control panel, mufflers, and metal base for dewatering and irrigation pump sets. “Cummins power units are a key offering for farmers looking for a turnkey power solution for pump applications,” Fu adds.
With engines ranging from 60 hp to 900 hp, Cummins has the right fit for nearly any agricultural purpose, including specialty applications like sprayers, harvesters, irrigation units, and wind machines. In addition to Cummins’ legendary power, the engines are designed to optimise fuel economy and reduce total cost of ownership for end users. Another major advantage is that Cummins can supply mechanical engines specifically for the Africa and Middle East region, which suits local fuel quality and technical capability.
An example of Cummins’ ongoing innovation is the development of its latest EU Stage V engine range, which features a proprietary catalyst and new Single Module™ aftertreatment system. This highly-advanced engine range has already made major inroads in European markets as a result of enhanced performance features such as higher power density, increased fuel efficiency, and lower running costs. “Another benefit for OEMs is that, if they opt to export from Africa to other regions, we can supply the latest emissions compliant technology as well,” Fu highlights.
However, Cummins is also conducting extensive research and development into electrification technology for the off-highway engine segment. To date, electrification has focused largely on smaller, lighter-duty equipment such as excavators, but farming equipment is definitely a focus area for the future.
The durability and performance of Cummins agricultural engines has been proven through decades of real-world use in some of the world’s most challenging environments. “At Cummins, our focus on powertrain technology drives us to continually experiment, innovate, and improve to ensure our products are the best in the industry. From tractors to tree shakers, Cummins has powered agriculture since its first engine, the HVID, was manufactured for farm pumps in 1919,” Fu concludes.
For more information on NAMPO 2019, visit https://www.grainsa.co.za/pages/nampo/nampo-home.
