First formed in May 2010, the partnership allows customers to access locally assembled Komatsu genuine hydraulic hoses through any of Pirtek?s 90 branches nationwide or through Komatsu?s extensive branch network.
Komatsu and Pirtek have added 2500 hose product lines to the supply agreement, significantly increasing the number of machinemodels that can now be serviced with the Pirtek-assembled Komatsu genuine hose.
Komatsu Limited of Japan has transferred additional intellectual property to Pirtek forthe design of its hydraulic hoses, now coveringmachines manufactured in a number of Komatsu factories worldwide.
The initial agreement focused mainly on machines assembled in Japanese factories. The additional product lines cover European and American assembled machines, including a number of larger mining models.
Brandon Semple, Komatsu?s national business development manager for hydraulic hoses, said Pirtek was now able to provide more than 3000 genuine specification hose product lines to Komatsu customers.
?With the addition of these new lines, more than 90 per cent of the Komatsu machines currently in service are covered,? he said.
?The transfer of hose design and manufacturing to Pirtek has resulted in an enhanced level of service to customers, with the majority of replacement hoses being fitted within 24 hours of the order being placed.
?Significantly, every hose is manufactured to Komatsu?s stringent engineering standards, ensuring quality and safety are never compromised,? Brandon Semple added.
?Downtime is significantly reduced, as there is no waiting at the worksite for the stock to arrive from a warehouse.?
Komatsu and Pirtek have warned that the use of inferior quality or non-genuine hose products can lead to costly hydraulic hose failures. A blown hose has the potential to cost an operator thousands of dollars in lost production and machine repairs, and can pose a significant physical risk to machine operators and technicians.
With worksite safety continuing to be a major issue for operators, Komatsu and Pirtek have implemented numerous safety measures when manufacturing hoses to minimise the risk of injury.
Stephen Dutton, the general manager of Pirtek Australia, said each Pirtek-manufactured hose was subject to several testing procedures before it is shipped to the customer.
?Pirtek has invested heavily in world class cleaning machines, ensuring every hose is free from dust, grit and any particle that may damage the hydraulic components of a machine,? he said.
?Each hose is assembled using the Komatsu Japan design matrix, and is guaranteed to fit, just like any other genuine part.?
Pirtek Fluid Systems has a dedicated in-house testing laboratory for high pressure hydraulic hoses at its King?s Park, Sydney manufacturing plant. The laboratory is fully accredited to National Association of Testing Authorities standards.
Stephen Dutton said the partnership has been welcomed by operators across Australia, and has now been successfully rolled out across New Zealand and South Africa.
?Every Pirtek technician is nationally accredited with a Certificate IV qualification, which helps control the quality of the finished product,? he said.
?By assembling these units using identical hoses and fitting them at Komatsu factories, quality and safety is world class, meaning the fitter?s and operator?s actions are never compromised.?
Pirtek has 90 branches nationwide and more than 320 mobile service units. It is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to service its customers wherever they are located.
Source: Komatsu Australia