Capital Equipment News August 2016

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS

AUGUST 2016

owermite, a division of Hudaco, has

earned the reputation as a specialist

engineering supplier of world-class

components, equipment and systems to

Southern Africa’s mining, marine, industrial

and general engineering sectors.

“From buffers for overhead cranes to cou-

plers for motors, we combine best-in-class

products with experience, expertise and

product know-how to deliver engineered

solutions to our valued customers,” says

Marketing Director, Donovan Marks. The

company’s extensive product portfolio in-

cludes energy supply systems, motorised

and spring cable reels, container handling

systems as well as industrial and mining

cables, plugs and sockets.

Powermite’s range of electrical products is

manufactured locally by Ampco and Proof

Engineering in a new state-of-the-art man-

ufacturing facility making it the largest plug

and socket manufacturer under one roof in

Africa.

First established in the late 1960s, this

pioneering company is responsible for

introducing a number of firsts to South Africa

including cable reeling drums, conductor

systems, festoon systems, flat cables as

well as a large variety of industrial plugs and

sockets of various specifications. Powermite

rapidly captured substantial market share

in the materials handling sector and with

ISO 9001:2000 accreditation secured, the

company was soon positioned as a single

source supplier of electrical crane materials

and flexible cables to Southern African

mining and industry.

Throughout its successful 45 year track re-

cord, Powermite has secured a number of

exclusive distribution rights for the supply

of premium brand products to Southern

African mining and industry. These com-

panies include Conductix Wampfler, EKD,

Telefonika, Mennekes and Proconnect. “We

also supply a range of high quality cable

accessories through our company division,

Three-D Agencies,” adds Marks.

Fundamental to Powermite’s success is

the company’s ongoing commitment to

maximising uptime and productivity for

customers and end-users through the

sustained delivery of quality products

supported by service excellence that

extends to optimised response time. “We

continuously invest in local manufacture

research to produce products that deliver

efficient and reliable performance,” states

Marks. “Our wide distribution network of

well-stocked branches in Johannesburg,

Rustenburg, Witbank, Cape Town, Durban

and Richards Bay support the Roodepoort

head office in efficiently serving the

local market as well as 14 cross-border

countries, including Mauritius. “We are

working on establishing a foothold in

Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, in

close co-operation with Hudaco, as part

of our African expansion strategy.”

efurbishment rather than replacement

of valves is increasingly viewed as a

means of reducing capital expendi-

ture, but only if work being carried out is in

accordance to the SANS 347, South African

Pressure Equipment Regulations and manu-

facturer’s strict requirements.

This is according to Ryan Croker, KSB Pumps

and Valves, Valve Service and Acting Sales

Manager, adding that refurbishment can offer

a number of advantages including reduced

lead times for large engineered valves. In oth-

er instances, the custom-fit nature of certain

valves makes it preferable to refurbish rather

than replace. Cost is also a factor, but these

benefits are meaningless unless the valve is

restored to OEM specifications and conditions

to ensure reliable service in the long run.

As one of the largest manufacturers and sup-

pliers of valves for all industries, including

high pressure steam valves for power gener-

ation, chemical and other plants, KSB Pumps

and Valves has recently invested in a work-

shop and other facilities to ensure that even

the most complex and precise valves can be

refurbished in accordance to the SANS 347,

the South African Pressure Equipment Regu-

lations and world-leading standards.

Manufacturer approved

“As an OEM manufacturer we are able to

supply either new or refurbished valves,

whichever make technical sense or according

to customers’ requirements. Our workshop

is specially equipped to deal with any type

of valve and we specialise in high pressure

steam and technically complicated valves.

“Like our mother-company in Germany we

have the technology and processes in place to

do the work correctly and in accordance with

all relevant legislations. Likewise, as an OEM

we have access to all the required technical

expertise and aftersales services to support

our valves whether they be new or refur-

bished,” says Croker.

He adds that the valves division has been es-

pecially beefed-up to meet growing demands

from an ever-broadening customer base.

Sales, service and logistics efforts enable

them to reach out to all corners of the region

and ensure that professional and competent

services can be offered.

Market needs

The promulgation of SANS 347 and

subsequent upgrading of KSBs’ valve repair

workshop is in line with efforts to ensure safer

handling and usage of equipment classified

as pressure vessel accessories. In light of the

large fleet of specialised valves that exist in

Southern Africa the establishment of a fully-

fledged compliant workshop opens avenues

for users to professionally refurbish rather

than replace valves.

In addition, KSB’s valve division will ensure

that the industry has access to the best na-

tional and international services from the

company. Utilities like Eskom, various water

authorities, as well as large-scale companies

are already making use of the company’s re-

pair and refurbishment services. “As an OEM

we are now able to offer customers a full

spectrum of services from sales, to support

and maintenance to repairs and eventual re-

furbishment if required. That is unique,” con-

cludes Croker.

PARTS AND MAINTENANCE

POWERMITE

– building on solid reputation

REFURBISHING TIRED VALVES