Planting the seeds of success

With its reliable and efficient customer service, Durban-based plant hire specialists Morgado offers more than just a wide range of vehicle and machinery solutions.

As one of the largest plant hire companies in South Africa, Morgado Plant Hire is able to supply its customers from domestic and neighbouring markets with a broad and multi-faceted range of plant vehicles.

From articulated dump trucks (ADTs), rollers, tractors and bulldozers, to excavators, mobile crushers and tippers, the firm has a comprehensive range of heavy-duty trucks, vehicles and construction-related machines at its disposal.

While the Durban-based plant hire specialist and civil construction contractor is known for its extensive variety of machines, it is also recognised for providing excellent customer service.

In the past three and a half decades, Morgado has grown to become a leading force in KwaZulu-Natal’s plant hire, civils contracting and logistics industry, and on its website proclaims: “We pride ourselves on providing good back-up and supplying top-class machinery to our customers.” 

The plant hire firm began life in 1975 under its founder Tony Rodrigues as a one man, one TLB-sized operation.

His son Luis joined his father in running the business in 1989 and in 2007 his daughter Neli joined the firm with specific responsibilities for the administration of the business.

Rodrigues’ son Luis, a mechanical and civil engineer, says, “When I joined Morgado, we had 35 TLBs and worked throughout the wider KwaZulu-Natal area.

“We then ventured into wheeled loaders, excavators and dozers. We diversified into all types of construction plant and so the company expanded.

“Now our machines are hired throughout South and Southern Africa, and we are one of the largest plant hire companies in South Africa with more than 220 machines,” he adds. “But we would prefer to be known for the quality of our service and machines rather than for our size.”

Of his father, Tony Rodrigues remarks, “Dad was a workshop foreman and bonded his house to buy his first TLB and start the company.

“I used to help him on weekends by repairing and servicing the plant from our home in Umbilo, Durban, and the neighbours used to complain because we would line our machines up along the pavement.”

The foundations for future success

In 2002, Morgado moved into its current premises in Glen Anil and has in place a strong foundation throughout the company, which is able to provide a springboard for future success.

Morgado’s business model consists of five divisions: civils contracting, plant hire, logistics, materials handling, and crushing and screening.

The civils contracting division has grown from strength to strength in the past 20 years and today specialises in bulk earthworks, roads and surfacing projects, as well as a range of other construction developments.

From excavators to ADTs, and bulldozers to hydraulic peckers, Morgado operates more than 220 machines. The plant and equipment division offers customers support from an in-house workshop, which employs more than 40 mechanics, boiler makers and mechanics assistants.

All of Morgado’s plant operators have been certified to competently operate equipment and the company ensures that supporting documentation is readily available.

Morgado owns and operates 11 low beds capable of transporting up to 60-tonne loads, and therefore requires a professional and efficient logistic division, which it has in place. Thanks in part to its logistic capabilities the company can today boast of being the preferred transporter to several agents and OEMs in South Africa, with cross-border capabilities that include all southern African countries up to Zambia.

Morgado has been a regular contractor to the Port Authorities in Durban for several years, involved in loading ships with various commodities from iron ore and coal, to manganese and copper concentrate. The firm’s materials handling division ensures this work is carried our efficiently and successfully with an operation that runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The plant employed in this operation includes 20 tonne and larger pay-loaders, as well as specialised 20 tonne backactor Straddle Machines that measure 7.9 metres high.

Finally, the crushing and screening division looks after Morgado’s three primary jaw crushers, two secondary cone crushers and a tertiary vertical shaft impact crusher.

Through such equipment, the company is able to produce crushed stone base and sub-base materials, aggregates for road surfacing and ready mix concrete, rip rap, gabion and pitching stone as well as processing run of mine material for ore beneficiation.

With such a broad range of large machines and solutions on offer to its customers, Morgado is a name that has grown and will continue to grow with the development of big industry and the introduction of big construction projects across the southern tip of Africa.

www.morgado.co.za

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