Hytec Fluid Technology (HFT) has been appointed ‘Super Dealer’ for Cummins Filtration’s range of Fleetguard® engine protection products for southern Africa, as part of a recent distribution agreement. This collaboration means that HFT, the hydraulic fluid specialists in the Hytec Group, now offers complete engine protection in addition to its total hydraulic fluid management offering across the sub-continent.

Coinciding with this collaboration was the recent opening of Cummins Filtration’s new filtration and coolant manufacturing plant at its new regional distribution centre for Southern Africa in Woodmead, Johannesburg. The premises incorporates Cummins Filtration’s component warehousing and local manufacturing facility, which produces Fleetguard fuel and air filters, and the modern Fleetguard Organic Acid Technology (OAT) engine coolant.

 “Fleetguard is ranked as the top two global brands in the international filtration market,” points out HFT General Manager Sandor Bottyan. “Cummins Filtration’s manufacturing investment in South Africa, along with their technical skills and stockholding, means our collaboration is mutually beneficial.” These benefits mean HFT can work closely with Cummins Filtration in South Africa, and Hytec’s African experience and tailored hydraulic products, including Bosch Rexroth products, add to the filtration specialist’s market penetration feasibility.”

Bottyan and Cummins’ Components Director for Africa Feroze Chowdary, refer to the synergies between the two companies. “Bosch Rexroth, as a hydraulics OEM and part of the Hytec Group, and whose hydraulic product range for mobile equipment we support in the region, has a vested interest in delivering high-quality protection for its hydraulic systems,” says Bottyan. “Cummins is the only engine manufacturer that has invested in its own filtration manufacturing capabilities,” Chowdary adds. “Fleetguard is the only filtration and engine protection OEM in the world that belongs to a high-tech engine manufacturer. We are at the forefront of new emission-regulated diesel engine development, which depend on very high cleanliness levels.”

Both companies’ representatives cite African expansion as one of the collaboration drivers. “Africa is home to some of the fastest developing countries in the world, and therefore holds massive potential in terms of our African expansion ambitions,” says Chowdary. “This complements Hytec Group’s African expansion vision,” adds Bottyan, and Hytec Group product distribution is already active in many countries north of South Africa’s borders through Hytec Services Africa (HSA)”. HSA has comprehensive distribution and operation centres in Botswana, DRC Ghana, Kenya Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.”

There are other similarities that demonstrate comparable ideologies. “Underpinning our collaboration with HFT,” Chowdary concludes, “are our overlapping company cultures. Cummins Filtration values integrity and investment in the local community as core overarching principles. We are strong believers in corporate responsibility, so as well as promoting local manufacturing to create jobs locally, we also sponsor schools and promote skills transfer into the region.”

HFT will market and distribute the entire Fleetguard range, including NanoNet® – a recently engineered synthetic fuel filter media designed to extend engine life. “When used in one of our diesel filters on an off-road vehicle,” says Bottyan, “the particulate in the diesel is removed to meet the 12/9/6 ISO cleanliness class.” Included in the filter distribution range is Cummins newly-developed NanoForce® technology air filters. These are made using the same synthetic Nano media as NanoNet, as well as cellulose media layers for use in conjunction with NanoNet fuel filtration.

“NanoNet fuel filtration extends the life of an engine and the service intervals, without increasing the breakdown risks. A typical mining vehicle has fuel and oil filters changed every 250 hours, with the air filter changed every 500 hours. Fleetguard filters are now designed to be changed every 1 000 hours, resulting in less vehicle maintenance downtime, improving productivity,” Bottyan, points out. “In addition,” concludes Chowdary, “environmental impact from disposing of traditional coolants is greatly reduced when our OAT lifelong coolant is used. This is because it need only be changed during or after midlife rebuild, compared to other coolants which are drained every 4 000 to 6 000 hours.”                        

HFT is the Hytec Group Company responsible for fluid management services within the group. It is the leading hydraulic filtration solutions specialist in southern Africa, distributing an extensive product range of pressure, spin on, return and suction filters, as well as exclusive fluid maintenance equipment and decontamination services.