Steam, as a thermal energy source, has been integral in multiple industrial processes since the 17th century. As such, its application has extended to steam locomotives, processing facilities, refineries, chemical plants, hospitals; as well as the food and beverage and textile sectors.
Various industrial sectors in South Africa – including the materials handling equipment sector – rely on machinery and industrial vehicles for swift, safe and cost-efficient operations. This machinery is mainly powered by long-lasting internal combustion engines; as well as standard-issue lead-acid batteries – and the increasingly popular lithium-ion batteries – which need to be charged regularly or exchanged for new battery packs to ensure operational continuity.
While South African industries continuously focus on improving their manufacturing health and safety standards, Rand-Air – an established leader in the field of air, nitrogen, power, flow (pumps) and lighting solutions, and part of the global Atlas Copco Specialty Rental division, aims to establish a leading role in health and safety.
“Dekra Industrial’s sole reason for existence is safety,” says Johan Gerber, Director at Dekra Industrial RSA, and it is evident that these are more than just words. Since 1925, when Dekra began its journey into safety services in the international automotive industry, the company has continued to pursue a strategy which enshrines and elevates the importance of safety throughout the many industrial sectors in which the company works, and in more than 50 countries worldwide.
Following an 18 month transformation process, Dekra Industrial in South Africa has recently attained a Level 3 B-BBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment) accreditation, with 51 percent black woman ownership. The agreement with the new majority share option holder, established B-BBEE ownership consultancy Transformation Shared Services (TSS), became effective from February 2021.
South Africa’s mining and industrial sector operates in diverse weather conditions: heat, cold, rainy or sunny. While mining operations in the typically hot Northern Cape operate mostly in hot, dry conditions, the province has experienced unusual and prolific rainfall since late last year – with the resulting water volumes and flooding affecting several mining and industrial operations.
The mining industry is a vital cog in the economic workings of South Africa, in particular platinum mines, of which the country has significant reserves, that are among the largest worldwide. Yet, if critical machinery breaks down – such as compressors – the resulting downtime could potentially significantly impact productivity and revenue.
Leading distributor of cutting consumables and capital equipment, South African company First Cut, has enjoyed a relationship spanning over four decades with Starrett, a renowned global manufacturer of industrial blades and metrology equipment. This cutting-edge collaboration and synergy is based on many areas of commonality – with the outstanding features being a mutual focus on delivering the very highest quality in all areas of manufacturing, product and customer service.
Ian Fraser, MD of RTS Africa, talks about the establishment of the Africa Hydrogen Partnership (AHP), a group of like-minded organisations and companies with a common interest in developing and financing a green hydrogen economy across the African continent.
The DEKRA Institute of Learning (IOL) and the Swift Skills Academy – two leaders in the South African training sector – have launched a very distinctive strategic partnership to boost industry-related and health and safety training; as well as other artisan training and employment opportunities in the Western Cape and the rest of the country. The partnership between these two educational powerhouses will empower learners, ensuring that they receive the best possible training in health and safety, welding, boiler making and other related fields, followed by experiential apprenticeships and job placements with reputable companies.
As winner of the prestigious Rand-Air Salesperson of the Year award, seasoned sales representative at the company’s Mpumalanga branch Chantal Bekker believes that one has to be willing to change the way one has ‘always’ approached and managed customer relationships and sales.
It is crucial for companies, whether they specialise in chemical manufacturing, electronics, fabrication, food and beverage or other sectors, to have a reliable and specific supply of industrial gas for production purposes. Notably, oil refineries and other industries have very specific and exact operational requirements for the use of nitrogen gas in particular, to enhance safety and reduce the risk of fires or explosions.
The pharmaceuticals industry requires a pristine manufacturing environment to ensure the integrity of the final product, which must meet the strictest levels of hygiene. A key enabler in producing these sterile ‘clean room’-standard manufacturing conditions lies in the application of oil-free compressed air.
Alexander & Poole (A&P) was founded over 4 decades ago in 1980 and today is the sole distributor for the Southern African region of Anderson Power Products (APP) electrical connectors, renowned to achieve the highest levels of durability, reliability and performance.
While good hygiene is always recommended, the stark reality is that in South Africa today, many of our schools do not have access to safe, clean running water. This fact has been exacerbated more than ever during 2020, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, when washing hands is a priority first defence against the virus and, not only recommended, but mandated by the government.
As a local pioneer in the manufacture and supply of nitrogen generation equipment since 1996, to a wide variety of industries – both locally and internationally – Nitralife also provides high-purity nitrogen gas for the fabrication sector, which forms an essential element of plasma and fibre laser cutting.
Dekra is widely recognised as a global expert in non-destructive testing (NDT) and inspection. With a presence in more than 50 countries on five continents, and a proud history of 95 years in the industry internationally, Dekra is dedicated to ensuring long-term safety, quality and environmental protection across all industries.
Service Supervisor Tumi Theledi is an inspiration to his Rand-Air colleagues as, through dedication and commitment, study and hard work, he is making impressive progress – at an ‘electrifying’ pace:
As part of the global Atlas Copco Group and widely recognised as the local equipment rental leader, Rand-Air delivers portable air, power, lighting and flow solutions into a variety of industries; while its agile, customer-centric service, safety and quality consistently assists customers to successfully meet their operational requirements.
DEKRA Industrial SA’s formidable reputation as the leader in non-destructive testing (NDT) and inspections has received further endorsement, with the recent win of a NOSCAR Safety Award. This is acknowledged as a very prestigious accolade and confirmation of excellence in the field of occupational health, safety, environment and risk management — bringing DEKRA Industrial closer to its avowed Vision 2025: to be ‘the global partner for a safe world’.
Rand-Air is the recognised local rentals market leader, with a track record of 47 years in the industry. As part of the global Atlas Copco Group, Rand-Air offers a comprehensive range of TUV-certified oil-free, diesel or electric air solutions, lighting towers and a range of power (generators) and flow (pump) solutions. Rand-Air upholds an excellent reputation, based on its principle of exceeding customers’ expectations.
Betterect, a South African specialist in the fabrication and erection of large steel structures within the mining, petrochemical and other industries, both locally and internationally, recently won the Industry category of the prestigious annual Steel Awards 2020.
Betterect, a South African fabricator and erector of large processing equipment structures, undertakes steel fabrication projects within the mining, petrochemical and other industries, for clients as far afield as Austria, Italy, Germany and Australia, as well as throughout Southern and Central Africa. With more than four decades in the industry, they are the recognised leaders within their field.
Dekra is one of the world’s leading experts in industrial inspection and non-destructive testing (NDT), backed by 95 years in the industry, with the vision of being ‘the global partner for a safe world’. With a presence in more than 50 countries and on five continents, Dekra is committed to ensuring long-term safety, health, quality, and environmental protection globally, across a broad spectrum of sectors and industries.
Recently, leading equipment rental company Rand-Air ‘passed the test’ with flying colours, delivering a 24-hour turnaround hire to a tertiary education college in Gauteng. Since 1973, Rand-Air – a part of the global Atlas Copco Group – has developed a reputation as the recognised leader in supplying portable air, flow, lighting and power equipment to the local rental market.
Rand-Air has been the established leader in the local portable air compressor and generator rental market for 47 years, recently also introducing pumps to its popular rental range. With a central ethos of exceptional customer service – coupled with the regular training and development of its people – the company’s dedication to excellence has paid off once again: this time, in the form of valuable repeat business from a long-standing customer in the gold mining sector.
As the established leader in the local portable air compressor and generator rental market, Rand-Air maintains an excellent reputation, based on its ethos of exceeding customers’ expectations and through the regular training and development of its people.
Great business is often predicated on excellent relationships. This was the case, when some 20 years ago, leading local cutting consumables and capital equipment supplier First Cut began distributing the products of global French timber industry specialist Forezienne MFLS in South Africa.
Nitralife, an industry leader in the provision of comprehensive nitrogen solutions across a variety of vertical industry applications, has introduced a booster for its Nitracut nitrogen generator.
The combination of a very long-standing relationship with a pulp and paper mill customer and Rand-Air Durban’s excellent teamwork ensured that the company was top-of-mind when it came to the customer’s power contingency planning earlier this year.
Betterect is a South African specialist in steel fabrication and the erection of large industrial structures and processing equipment across the continent, within various industries including the mining, petrochemical and industrial sectors.
As the established leader in the local portable air compressor and generator rental market, Rand-Air forms part of the global Atlas Copco Group. Through the regular training and development of its people and investment in the latest technology, Rand-Air maintains a sound track record of customer service excellence and exceeding customers’ expectations.
Strategically located on the west coast of Africa in Walvis Bay, Namibia, Namdock is a leader in the West African ship repair market and offshore oil and gas sector, which has gained global recognition for its extensive dry dock capacities and exceptional client service – even in the face of a global pandemic, which has seen numerous oil rigs being decommissioned and a sharp decline in repair and maintenance activities accordingly.
Rand-Air is the recognised leader when it comes to the provision of portable air and power in the local rental market. Based on an entrenched ethos of exceeding customers’ expectations and through the regular training and development of its people, the company services a wide variety of sectors including the renewable energy industry.
As the established leader in the local portable air compressor and generator rental market, Rand-Air maintains an excellent reputation, based on its ethos of exceeding customers’ expectations and through the regular training and development of its people.
