We spoke with Melih Çakırgil, the Machinery Manager of the ENKA-Bechtel Joint Venture, about the ongoing Morava Corridor Highway Project in Serbia and the equipment used in the project. ENKA Marketing supplied more than 200 machines from Hitachi, Tadano, Dynapac, Palfinger, SDMO, and BELL brands for the project.
Can we get some information about the Morava Corridor Highway Project?
In December 2019, the ENKA-Bechtel joint venture signed a contract with the Government of the Republic of Serbia to undertake the design and construction works of the 112-kilometer Morava Corridor Highway Project, which will connect the Pan-European Corridors 10 and 11. The Morava Corridor Highway Project is a divided highway extending from Pojate and A1 (the North-South highway in central Serbia), passing through Kruševac (former industrial center of Yugoslavia), to Preljina north of Čačak, spanning 112 kilometers. The project is envisioned as a provider of new economic corridors to the industrial city of Kruševac and as a connector to Bosnia, Montenegro, and Macedonia, fostering international connections. The project will make significant contributions to the economies and social lives of major cities in the surrounding regions.
When did the project start, when is it planned to be completed, and what are the tasks you have undertaken for this project?
The actual start of the project was in March 2020, with a planned completion in four years from the start. Within the Morava Corridor Highway Project, numerous new intersections, highways, railways, and structures crossing the Morava River along the route will be constructed. Due to the wide floodplain of the West Morava River, comprehensive erosion protection works, flood protection measures, long river diversions, embankments, and the construction of a new riverbed will be carried out. Additionally, the project includes the construction of various numbers of bridges, overpasses, and underpasses.
What brands and models of machines did you acquire from ENKA Marketing for the project?
For our project, we chose machinery from Hitachi, Tadano, Dynapac, Palfinger, SDMO, and BELL brands through ENKA Marketing. We have a wide variety of models. We opted for Hitachi ZW310 wheeled loaders, ZX140W-6, ZX170W-6, ZX190W-6 wheeled excavators, and ZX250, ZX350, ZX490, and ZX690 tracked excavators. From Tadano, we acquired GR600 and GR800 rough terrain mobile cranes, as well as ATF60, ATF70, ATF100, and ATF130 all-terrain mobile cranes. We selected Dynapac CA5000D, CC1200, and CC6200 models for rollers. Palfinger was our choice for truck-mounted cranes, with models PK 33002 EH and PK 41002 EH selected based on the weights of materials to be lifted in the project. In terms of generators, we are using SDMO models K66, J220K, V400C2, and V650C2. For articulated dump trucks, we added BELL B40E 6x6 ADTs to our fleet.
If we evaluate the ENKA Marketing machines you acquired in terms of suitability and efficiency for the work you are doing, what would you say?
The choices were made based on the capacities of the machines for the tasks at hand. In this context, there have been evaluation processes for suitability leveraging ENKA Marketing's sales experience in the market. Based on field feedback, we see that we have achieved our efficiency targets with almost all the equipment.
What were the factors that influenced your preference for ENKA Marketing?
The strong presence of globally proven brands distributed by ENKA Marketing, their superior efficiency compared to other brands, short delivery times, and the quality of after-sales services provided within the usage period made ENKA Marketing our preferred choice. Our previous experience with these brands on the Kosovo Highway Project and the well-known solutions provided by the company also played a significant role in our decision-making process. All excavators are from Hitachi, while most cylinders are from Dynapac, and more than half of the generators are from SDMO brand.
You exclusively use the Hitachi brand in the excavator group. Could you explain the reason for this?
We used to have different brands in this product group, but for this project, we switched entirely to Hitachi. The primary reason for this is the durability of these machines. The long lifespan of the Isuzu engines used in Hitachi machines, their excavation power, fuel efficiency, and resistance to tough field conditions are vital for us. Additionally, compared to other brands, we see significant fuel savings with Bell trucks.
Do you encounter any difficulties in accessing after-sales services for the machines acquired in this overseas project? What kind of services does ENKA Marketing offer you?
For us, the speed and timeliness of the services provided, ensuring that the machines do not remain idle, have always been important. With ENKA Marketing's service, rapid diagnostics, interventions both remotely and on-site, and operator training for evolving machine technologies are crucial. Regarding spare parts, I can say that rapid procurement and well-managed warranty processes are ensured. Accessibility is the primary criterion for after-sales services. We have been working in the Balkan countries for a long time, and during this process, we have seen that the after-sales services of local companies are not sufficient. ENKA Marketing's faster and higher-quality after-sales services than established local firms make our work easier. ENKA Marketing provides satisfactory service in terms of accessibility, remote assistance, technician expertise, and problem-solving. Moreover, the satisfaction we experienced from the after-sales services offered in previous projects was one of the factors influencing our decision to work with ENKA Marketing on this project.
ENKA-Bechtel Joint Venture
ENKA and its joint venture partner Bechtel have successfully undertaken major infrastructure projects in the region since the 1990s, including highways in Albania, Croatia, Kosovo, Turkey, and Romania. Through this partnership, over 750 kilometers of highways containing significant engineering structures such as tunnels, bridges, and viaducts have been constructed.
