Despite a very tight schedule during the 2025 Investing in African Mining Indaba, the CEO and Chairman of Guangxi LiuGong Machinery was excited to outline the company’s plans to provide African mining companies with relevant intelligent technologies and electric equipment solutions.
By Jimmy Swira
Embracing relevant technologies to ensure that their operations are safe, sustainable, and efficient is one of the surefire ways African mining companies can realise more value from their assets. That’s why they should partner with reliable suppliers of mining and construction equipment.
Zeng Guang’an, the CEO and Chairman of Guangxi LiuGong Machinery, shared this sage advice with African mining companies recently at the Investing in African Mining Indaba 2025, where the company showcased its vast product range to wowed delegates.
On the sidelines of his engagements, he took a moment to speak to Mining Business Africa. Enthusiastically, Guang’an reassured prospective African customers that the multinational company is well-positioned to deliver tailored solutions to meet their specific needs, including comprehensive after-sales parts and services.
He highlighted LiuGong’s evolution from humble beginnings in 1958 to a global leader in supplying a wide range of cutting-edge electric equipment and intelligent technology solutions for mining, construction, and agricultural production.
Products: A Perfect Fit for African Mining
Regarding the contemporary demands of African mining, Guang’an referred to the company’s electric product range as a ‘perfect fit’. Key takeaways demonstrated the company’s commitment to sustainability, efficiency, safety, and reducing operating costs:
i. Sustainability
LiuGong designs and manufactures energy-efficient electric and hybrid mining equipment. With low fuel consumption, these machines produce lower emissions than traditional diesel-powered equipment, contributing to cleaner air and a reduced carbon footprint. They guarantee high performance while minimising environmental impact.
What’s more, LiuGong provides training and education to its clients and operators on sustainable mining practices. This includes best practices for equipment operation, maintenance, and environmental stewardship.
ii. Efficiency and Safety
The company incorporates advanced technologies such as telematics and IoT (Internet of Things) to optimise equipment performance. These technologies help monitor equipment health, predict maintenance needs, and ensure efficient operation. Additionally, unmanned driving and remote control technology enhance safety.
iii. Lowering Operating Costs
Predictive maintenance reduces downtime and unplanned expenditure on spare parts. This, combined with energy-saving technologies, increases profitability.
After-Sales Parts and Services
One of the biggest concerns about overseas equipment suppliers to African mining operations is the certainty (or uncertainty) of after-sales parts and services. Addressing this, Guang’an assured that LiuGong considers reliable after-sales parts and services key ingredients for customer satisfaction.
To meet this need, the company has several initiatives firmly in place for Africa:
- Strengthening local collaboration: In South Africa and the region, LiuGong collaborates with ELB to share local warehouses and improve spare parts coverage.
- Technical support system: Combining remote diagnosis with on-site service, the LiuGong Smart Service App enables LiuGong service engineers, headquarters engineers, and local dealer experts to conduct remote consultations to solve problems.
- Building localised service capabilities: LiuGong has established a dealer joint training centre in South Africa to certify local technicians, covering modules such as hydraulics, electrical, and intelligent systems.
On the significance of this approach, Guang’an stressed: “LiuGong understands the importance of after-sales service. Our partnership with dealers ensures that every user of our service receives responsive support and high-quality spare parts supply.”
Long-Term Cooperation with African Customers
While some overseas suppliers take a short-term approach when serving African customers, LiuGong focuses on long-term, trust-based cooperation. Specifically, Guang’an explained that several attributes give LiuGong a competitive edge in this area:
- Technology accumulation: Practical experience in addressing challenges in mining areas, extreme working conditions, and equipment solutions.
- Localisation services: Ensuring rapid response and cost optimisation.
- Green transformation: Commitment to sustainability, compliance, and long-term value.
What is more, African mining companies partnering with LiuGong benefit from its extensive global presence, including:
- 30 subsidiaries and offices worldwide
- 12 R&D bases
- 20 global manufacturing facilities
- 500 global dealers
From the foregoing, Guang’an declared that the company is perfectly positioned to meet the needs of African mining projects of any scale: “Our products are engineered to deliver. Besides, our team is always customer-oriented and committed to providing you with the highest quality solutions and services. We believe that cooperation with LiuGong will bring higher efficiency and greater value to your mining operations.”
Looking ahead, Guang’an pronounced ambitious goals for Africa: “We are confident in the African market. Our goal is to become a leader in the African mining industry through technological innovation and sustainable development.
Milestone upon Milestone
Since its establishment in 1958, LiuGong has achieved milestone upon milestones – from launching China’s first electric loader in 2015 to developing the world’s first unmanned roller and implementing a 5G remote-controlled excavator. To date, LiuGong has surpassed 1.5 million global sales, with products covering over 180 countries.
Looking ahead, the company plans to introduce larger-tonnage mining products, deepen applications of pure electric mining trucks, and expand hybrid technologies to reduce carbon emissions in mining areas.
