Lagos, Nigeria — A Shacman mixer truck reducer began emitting a high‑frequency grinding noise at the critical Lagos‑Ibadan railway pouring zone. The site foreman immediately halted operations, as any further rotation could damage the entire hydraulic system. With 40 m³ of ready‑mix concrete at risk of setting inside the drum, the countdown began. This is the story of how a Shacman mixer truck reducer stocked in Dubai made its way to site in just 22 hours, saving the project from a week‑long standstill.
The trouble began at 14:30 local time. While the mixer drum was revolving at 6 rpm during a continuous pour, operators heard a repetitive metallic chattering from the Shacman mixer truck reducer. Vibration spikes were observed on the cab’s auxiliary display. Within minutes, the drum slowed down and eventually seized. The team suspected a catastrophic internal gear failure or bearing collapse inside the reduction unit.
With the railway project on a tight deadline, every hour of downtime meant penalties and concrete waste. The site manager contacted the official SHACMAN support line, but the nearest Nigerian warehouse had no stock for this particular heavy‑duty planetary reducer (model PMB 6.5sp equivalent).
The SHACAM global service network immediately triggered its Dubai regional hub — a strategic stockpoint that carries high‑turnover spares for Africa. A complete Shacman mixer truck reducer assembly (compatible with 8×4 and 6×4 chassis) was located. The unit, manufactured with Italian PMP internals and rated at 70 000 Nm output torque, matched the failed unit perfectly [citation:3].
What happened next reads like a logistics thriller: the reducer was packed, air‑freighted on the next Emirates SkyCargo flight from DXB to LOS, and cleared through Nigerian customs within four hours thanks to pre‑cleared AEO status.
| Parameter | Value / model | Application notes |
|---|---|---|
| Reducer type | Planetary two‑stage / PMP design | Compatible with Shacman F3000, X3000 |
| Output torque (max) | 70,000 Nm | Suitable for 8–12 m³ drum |
| Reduction ratio | 0.131 (approx. 1:7.63) | Optimised for 0–14 rpm drum speed |
| Hydraulic motor interface | PMP M90 / TOP 089A | 400 bar pressure rating [citation:2] |
| Lubrication | SAE 90 EP / bath + forced spray | 5.2 litre capacity |
| Weight | 198 kg | Includes mounting flange |
*Data compiled from SHACMAN service bulletins and field manuals [citation:1][citation:3]
The reducer left the Jebel Ali warehouse at 19:00 GST. By 23:30 it was boarded on EK 783, arriving Murtala Muhammed Airport at 03:10 WAT. A dedicated service van from SHACMAN’s Lagos partner collected the unit at 05:30, bypassing normal cargo delays. The team arrived at the Lagos‑Ibadan railway construction camp at 12:15 local time — exactly 21 hours and 45 minutes after the initial distress call.
By 13:00, the original damaged Shacman mixer truck reducer was unbolted. The new unit — with its distinctive blue paint mark — was lifted into place. Hydraulic lines were purged, and the system was refilled with ISO VG 68 oil. After a brief static test, the drum rotated smoothly at 2 rpm, then 8 rpm, with zero abnormal noise. Vibration levels returned to below 1.2 mm/s.
The concrete that had been kept alive by intermittent manual agitation was finally discharged at 15:30. The railway pier #23 was completed without a cold joint.
“We were prepared for a week of downtime. Seeing the Dubai‑stocked Shacman mixer truck reducer arrive in less than a day changed everything. The precision of the planetary gears and the immediate availability saved our pour schedule.” — Site project manager, China Civil Engineering Construction.
This emergency proves the value of SHACMAN’s distributed inventory. The Dubai warehouse stocks over 120 units of Shacman mixer truck reducers for various models (PMB, PMP, TOP series) along with complete hydraulic pumps and motors. For West African customers, delivery within 24 hours is now a reality rather than a promise. The Lagos‑Ibadan incident will be added to the service log as a benchmark for rapid response.
| Model | Torque (Nm) | Hydraulic motor match | Typical chassis |
|---|---|---|---|
| PMB 6.5sp | 65,000 | ARK 90 / PMP M90 | 6×4, 8 m³ drum [citation:1] |
| PMP 7.1 | 70,000 | PMP M90 (400 bar) | 8×4, 10–12 m³ [citation:3] |
| TOP 089 | 68,000 | TOP 089 pump/motor | SX5255, 12 m³ [citation:2] |
*All reducers feature integral planetary design and are interchangeable with standard Shacman flanges.
The Lagos‑Ibadan railway construction will not forget the day a Shacman mixer truck reducer flew in from Dubai. With the right part, a coordinated logistics team, and on‑site expertise, what could have been a seven‑day catastrophe became a one‑day hiccup. For any operator facing a similar reducer failure, this case confirms that SHACMAN’s global network — especially the Dubai node — delivers genuine, plug‑and‑play solutions without the long wait.
If you operate Shacman mixers in Africa, ensure your local dealer has a direct link to the Dubai hub. And always verify the reducer part number against the PMB/PMP/TOP interchange list — it might save your next pour.
