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March 2016
AFRICAN FUSION
29
E
SAB has decided to dissolve the
relationship with its local BEE
partner and to again take more
direct responsibility for importing, dis-
tributing and servicing ESABproducts in
southern and South Africa.
Both ESAB and Howden are part of
the global Colfax Corporation, the US-
based industrial giant, which acquired
the companies in January 2012 after
completing a US$2.4-billion takeover
of their parent company, Charter Inter-
national.
“In South Africa, because Howden
and ESAB are co-owned by Colfax, we
are sister companieswithin theumbrella
corporation. So when the need arose to
look for an alternative way to service
ESAB’s needs in South Africa and in the
Southern African region, Howden set
up a division called ESAB South Africa,
a Division of Howden Donkin within the
local Howden Africa company. This divi-
sion will from now on import, sell and
distribute all ESAB’s products in South
Africa,” says Kim Brightwell of ESAB
ESAB restructures SA route
to market through Howden Donkin
Middle East and Africa.
Howden Africa produces a diverse
range of large-scale engineered plant
and products. The Howden Africa busi-
ness units include: HowdenPower; How-
den Fan Equipment; Howden Projects;
and Donkin Fans. Howden Donkin has a
manufacturing facility in Port Elizabeth,
which designs and manufactures pre-
engineered fans and accessories.
“ESAB South Africa’s head office and
central warehouse now sits at Howden
Africa’s Booysens premises in Johan-
nesburg south, just two minutes off the
M1 motorway,” Brightwell says.
“Howden Donkin is an ideal partner
forESABasithasawell-developedimport
and logistics capabilities that are ideally
suited toESABSouthAfrica’s needs. With
infrastructure in PE, Cape Town and
Johannesburg on the warehousing and
distribution side, we have been able to
dovetail our ESABoperations veryquickly
and effectively,” he adds.
In addition, ESAB South Africa is
working with Imperial in Durban for
warehousing, distribution, office and
workshop space. “Imperial are taking
care of the logistics area and we oper-
ate a sales office from its premises,” he
continues.
The existing ESAB Middle East &
Africa Team, which is also now based in
Booysens and consists of sales and tech-
nical support personnel, will continue to
assist both ESAB South Africa and their
customer to gain themost out of ESAB’s
extensive range of quality products.
“We have re-established ESAB’s
formal presence and trading capacity
in South Africa. We are now leaner, more
experienced and more determined to
provide the complete range of ESAB
products and services to the South
African market,” Brightwell concludes.
Kim Brightwell