Nickel Asia acquires Isuzu trucks

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s diesel expert is boosting its share in moving the domestic economy forward through the latest deliveries of its products. Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) on July 17, 2012, turned over a fleet of 53 brand-new Isuzu CYZ51 dump trucks to Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC), the country’s largest producer of lateritic nickel ore.

The new trucks’ turnover, held at IPC’s headquarters in Biñan, Laguna, ensures that raw materials extracted from NAC sites will be transported reliably and efficiently to processing plants, where these can be converted to forms suitable for use in various industries. Leading the turnover ceremony were company officials headed by IPC president Ryoji Yamazaki, as well as by NAC executives.

NAC, one of the biggest extractors of lateritic nickel ore in the world, has a long operating history in the Philippines. The company started selling ore in 1977 from Rio Tuba in Palawan, its first mine site. Since 2004, IPC has supplied more than 100 brand-new vehicles to NAC subsidiaries in Rio Tuba, Taganito, Coral Bay and Cagdianao.

Among the brand new-trucks recently purchased by NAC, 13 units will be used at the company’s Taganito site in Surigao while 40 units will be used in Rio Tuba.

Signifying IPC’s commitment to its partners, the company assured NAC of after-sales support by establishing an on-site parts depot in the Taganito site. IPC is also conducting seminars for NAC’s drivers and mechanics to enhance their knowledge in the proper maintenance and operation of the brand-new Isuzu trucks. Additionally, IPC technical engineers have scheduled regular visits to NAC’s operation sites so they can monitor and assure the optimum performance of the trucks.