Over the past 50 years, Rand Air has led the local rental industry in the supply of a wide range of portable equipment including diesel and electric air compressors, generators, light towers, pumps and steam boilers. The rental specialist is intensifying its focus on pumps to meet the growing need for this equipment identified in a number of sectors including mining and infrastructure in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
“The growing mining activity, (mainly coal and iron ore), in the Richards Bay and Empangeni areas as well as the unfortunate high flood risks in our province are primary drivers for pumps,” says Rand Air’s KZN Area Manager, Rudi de Vry. “This has prompted us to increase our focus on our pump rental fleet which includes the PAC H64, PAS Medium Flow and PAS 150 High Flow 300 surface units. Our strategy also aligns with our ongoing commitment to maintaining our leading position in the KZN rental industry and to service sectors across the board.”
“We are fairly new to the pump rental market so alongside discussions with current customers, we are also focussing on new customers and industries," states Rudi. “Our task is to listen to and understand our customers’ requirements so that we are able to offer the best solutions, enabling them to complete their projects timeously and efficiently. In other words, we make agility count!”
Rand Air KZN is tapping into the pump rental market through various campaigns and exhibitions, including participation in the Richards Bay Expo at the end of March. Networking is one of the best ways to gain exposure as well as leads in the pump market and these were some of the objectives for Rand Air’s decision to be present at the Expo. The team was out in full force at the expo, sharing advice as well as product and service information with visitors to the stand. “The exhibition gave us a wonderful opportunity to showcase some of our pump offerings and I believe this gave us a great launch platform for our product, service and after-market solutions,” affirms Rudi.
The nine KZN team members are responsible for rental sales and service delivery across the KZN region, including the southern and northern territories as well as inland and coastal. Rand Air KZN’s footprint also extends to the Eastern Cape. The team receives ongoing technical training to ensure that all members are up to date with the latest product technologies and rental offerings.
While the mining sector is showing significant potential for pump rentals, Rudi is quick to assure that the team will not limit themselves to this segment. “We will promote our pump rental fleet at every opportunity through effective prospecting.”
Rand Air places a high value on after-sales service which Rudi describes as ‘a core service of rental’. “Driven by the customer experience, we differentiate Rand Air by focussing on higher and measurable service excellence targets,” affirms Rudi. He adds that the aim of the KZN team is to provide a holistic rental service. It begins from the initial call-in and need identification to delivery to site, demonstration on the function of equipment and ancillaries and finally, the provision of 24/7 technical support during the rental period.
Rudi concludes: “We are all accountable for providing excellent service to our customers with whom we forge long-standing partnerships, offering the most optimal solutions for their business sustainability.”
