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Client Spotlight: How One Construction Company Saved R250K with Vikfin Parts

  • Writer: RALPH COPE
    RALPH COPE
  • Jul 15
  • 4 min read

Updated: Jul 23

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Real Machines. Real Money. No Corporate BS.

They say the proof is in the pudding. At Vikfin, we say the proof is in the part—and the R250,000 our client didn’t have to spend because they didn’t buy brand new.


This is the story of XYZ Earthworks, a medium-sized construction company operating across Gauteng and Mpumalanga. They do the tough jobs: pipeline trenches, mine rehab, roadwork in the middle of nowhere. Their machines are battered, diesel-thirsty monsters—and every hour one sits idle costs real money.

This time, one of those machines—an old-but-reliable Komatsu PC300-8—was about to derail the company’s entire schedule… and budget.


The Problem: A Final Drive That Said "Screw This"

It started with a whine. Then a bit of sluggish swing. And then, on a Thursday morning in Delmas, it happened: the left-hand final drive gave up. No forward. No reverse. Just the sound of Rands burning.


Now, XYZ Earthworks isn’t new to this game. They knew what a new Komatsu final drive costs from the dealer: around R350,000, depending on the mood of the parts department and the latest import duties.


Worse still? Six-week lead time. That’s 42 days of lost work. Hundreds of hours of idle crew. Machines standing. Clients shouting.

So, they did what smart operators do: called Vikfin.


The Call: "Tell Me You’ve Got One in Stock"

We picked up on the second ring. The site manager, Jabu, didn’t waste time:

“Morning. I need a final drive for a Komatsu PC300. Left-hand side. Machine’s down. I’m dying here. Got anything?”

We checked our stock database—yes. A solid used unit from a recent PC300 strip, fully inspected, gear oil clean, seals tight, splines mint.

Price?

R85,000.

Jabu went quiet.

“Come again?”
“R85,000. It’s clean, tested, no leaks, no funny noises. We’ll ship it to site by morning.”

He called back 15 minutes later. Confirmed. Paid. Done.


The Delivery: One Night, One Drive, One Grateful Client

We loaded the part, shipped overnight with our usual courier, and by 9 a.m. Friday morning, the new final drive was on site.

By Saturday noon, it was installed and moving earth.

Total downtime: less than 48 hours.

Compare that to 42 days from the OEM.

We’ll let the numbers speak for themselves.


The Breakdown: What They Saved

Item

OEM Price (New)

Vikfin Price (Used)

Final Drive – LH PC300

R350,000

R85,000

Downtime Costs (6 weeks est.)

R120,000

R6,000 (2 days)

Installation

R5,000

R5,000

Freight

R4,500

R2,000

Total Spend

R479,500

R98,000

Total Savings


R381,500

Okay, so it was more than R250,000. Let’s call it a conservative R250K in savings for the blog title. We don’t want to embarrass the OEM too much.


But Wait… Wasn’t It “Used”?

Ah yes, the big question.

“Is it safe to use a second-hand final drive?”

Short answer: if it comes from Vikfin, yes.

Here’s why:

  • We don’t sell junk.

  • Every part is stripped, cleaned, and inspected.

  • If it’s not good enough to run on our own machine, it doesn’t leave our yard.

XYZ Earthworks got a low-hour, tested, reliable drive that’s still working six months later without a hiccup.


Why More Construction Companies Are Making the Switch

Used parts used to be a gamble. Bought from some dodgy guy on Facebook Marketplace. No history. No test. Just vibes.

But the game has changed. And smart operators are waking up to the real value:

Massive Cost Savings

Why pay new when your machine’s already got 10,000 hours on it? A used part can do the same job—for a fraction of the price.

Faster Turnaround

OEMs often don’t have parts locally. We do. If we’ve stripped it, it’s ready. That means less downtime, more uptime.

Solid Quality

We don’t touch grey imports or counterfeit parts. Only OEM.

Support and Advice

Need help matching your model? Want to know how many hours are on a pump? Our team isn’t just salespeople—we’re dieselheads with dirt under our nails.


How to Avoid the OEM Trap: 3 Rules

If you're in the business and want to avoid blowing your budget like a rookie, follow these golden rules:

1. Match Your Machine, Not Just the Part Number

Excavators are sneaky. The same model can have different versions depending on the year or country. At Vikfin, we’ll check compatibility based on your machine serial number, year, and hydraulic layout—so you don’t end up with an expensive paperweight.

2. Ask About Testing and History

We’ll always tell you:

  • Where the part came from

  • What condition it’s in

  • What we’ve tested

  • Whether it’s worth installing

If someone can’t answer those? Run.

3. Work With a Reputable Supplier

Not all used parts dealers are created equal. Some are basically scrapyards in disguise. We’re not one of them. We’ve built a reputation as South Africa’s go-to used excavator parts supplier for a reason.


What Jabu Had to Say

We caught up with Jabu a few weeks later to check in.

“Honestly, I was skeptical at first. But you guys delivered. Fast. Clean part. No drama. We’ve since bought a hydraulic pump and some track rollers from you. All still running.”

He even referred another contractor who’s now sourcing exclusively through Vikfin. Word travels fast in this industry—especially when it’s saving people six figures.


Your Machine Doesn’t Care if the Part Is Brand New

It cares whether it works.

It cares whether it’s going to keep running under pressure, in the mud, under the African sun, while your operator forgets to grease the boom (again).

Used doesn’t mean second-best. It means smart business. Especially when sourced from people who know what they’re doing.


Want to Save Like XYZ Earthworks? Here’s What to Do:

1. Call Us With Your Problem

Machine down? Uncertain diagnosis? Give us a ring—we’ll help you figure it out, even if it’s not a part we sell.

2. Let Us Check Stock and Compatibility

We’ve got parts from Volvo, Komatsu, Hitachi, Doosan, Hyundai and more. If it fits, we’ll find it.

3. Get Back to Work

We’ll arrange delivery anywhere in South Africa—fast.

Because downtime is expensive, but calling Vikfin isn’t.


Final Word: You Don’t Need to Be a Big Company to Make Big Savings

XYZ Earthworks isn’t a JSE-listed mega corp. They’re a tough, boots-on-the-ground operation just like thousands of others in South Africa.

They didn’t save R250K because they were special.

They saved it because they made the smart call.

You can too.


 
 
 

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