Duratray International says it continues to go against the trend with investments into new markets. This year saw the office openings in both Johannesberg (South Africa) and Saint Petersburg (Russia), allowing the platform for continued growth within those regions. Remaining committed to significant investment in R&D, the development of sustainable products for said markets not only improve productivity of its clients but also exceed in its focus on health and environmental factors within the community.
Duratray International entered the Russian market in 2015 supplying its Belaz 7530 fleet to one of the world’s largest coal companies – SUEK. And 2017 also saw a 30+ Duratray fleet enter a leading Russian iron-ore mining company, increasing its productivity more than 11%. The year 2018 expected to grow further supplying a large Duratray fleet into the biggest gold, iron ore and coal mines for the region.
Duratray told IM it is positive in the future growth of its current customer base and the development of new relationships in Russia and its surrounding countries. The Russian branch, with Steve Hall as its Deputy General Manager, is a new base of operations for Former Soviet Union countries together with their established business involvement in Mongolia. Having commenced in the region with sales to Kyrgyzstan in 2014, Siberia in 2015 and Western Russia in 2016. Hall has contributed significantly to the geographic expansion of the company.
Duratray International plans to open its Moscow office in 2018, and will continue working closely with the community and its customers to bring sustainability to the industry. At MiningWorld Russia in April, Duratray presented its customised technology – showcasing the Suspended Dump Body Truck and XP Steel Light Dump Body Truck. Manufacturing operations are now well advanced at both St Petersburg and Magnitogorsk facilities with the first deliveries of Caterpillar 793D lightweight steel dump bodies having been made. “Enthusiastic support has been received from local steel manufacturers, all of whom are vertically integrated companies which conduct their own mining operations. Those iron ore and coking coal mines provide future opportunities for supply of Duratray products.”
The six Cat-789 Duratray suspended dump bodies (SDB’s) at Kumtor Gold in Kyrgyzstan were recently inspected by Duratray Field Service leader Don Wright. Having passed more than three years in service the SDB dump bodies “have demonstrated exceptionally low wear rates of approximately 10 mm per year on the Wear Mats. This indicates that the replacement life of the wearmats (original thickness 90 mm) would be approximately 40,000 hours or some seven years.”
