The Multotec Group recently donated one of its SC20/7VC small-diameter
seven-turn spirals to the University of Pretoria (UP), where it will be used by both
undergradate and postgraduate students, as well as for research and development.
According to Wynand Roux, lecturer in the UP Department of Material Science and
Metallurgical Engineering, proper research needs the involvement of industry players
like Multotec. “Ongoing interaction with equipment suppliers affords our students the
opportunity to undertake projects aimed at providing innovative solutions and new
technology for the mining and metallurgical sectors,” says Roux. “Having access to
equipment like Multotec’s spiral certainly assists in bridging the gap between theory
and practice, and allows students to better understand what this sort of equipment
can achieve.” Multotec Group CEO Thomas Holtz and MD of Multotec Process
Equipment, Rikus Immink, himself a UP graduate, attended the handover ceremony.
Goscor Earth Moving (GEM), part of the Goscor Group, has added
Sany excavators, motor graders, and rollers to its stable, alongside the Bobcat
compact construction equipment it has been offering for many years. According
to technical expert Simon Zhu, Sany is the number one heavy-equipment brand
in China, with 500 000 units supplied in 180 countries. GEM managing director
Barry Owen says that locally, the main differentiator for Sany will be highly
competitive pricing, supplemented by increased parts-holding and full in-field
service and technical backup through GEM’s national branch structure. “We hold
about R8-million worth of Sany spares at any one time, and replenish this stock
on a weekly basis,” he said. Sany equipment has been engineered specifically
for African operating conditions, including features such as shorter sticks and
stronger booms on its excavators for enhanced durability.
Marthinusen & Coutts consolidates presence across Africa
Marthinusen & Coutts (M&C), a division of Actom, is consolidating its role
as an integrated electrical and mechanical services provider across Africa and
internationally. Together with subsidiary Actom Turbo Machines, the division
offers the full range of maintenance, repair, and special manufacturing services
of electric motors, generators, turbo machinery, and other high-speed mechanical
rotating equipment.
Richard Botton, Divisional CEO of M&C, says both companies have a long
history of serving African customers. He ascribes the ongoing success to a
combination of diligent planning; a culture of problem solving and providing
innovative solutions; rapid response times; industry-leading skills; and having the
necessary infrastructure and resources in place in both South Africa and strategic
African countries.
“We are well positioned to carry out critical projects both in Africa and
globally, having access to all our resources in South Africa as well as our
well-equipped facility in Zambia,” Botton says. The company’s Zambia facility
provides immediate services to its customers in that region, as well as the full
backup of M&C and Actom’s resources in South Africa.
As an independently owned service provider that can provide extensive
maintenance, repair, and special manufacturing solutions for all electrical
and mechanical rotating machinery, M&C has an extensive reference base
of successfully completed projects, innovative maintenance solutions,
record turnaround time breakdown repairs, and numerous on-site
maintenance contracts.
“M&C has been involved in Africa for more than a decade, and as such have
a sound knowledge of what it takes to deliver a quality solution to our customers
in the countries in which we operate,” Botton says. He attributes the company’s
success on the continent to its in-depth understanding of African conditions,
which allows teams to get to site, and manage and execute projects on an
ongoing basis.
“We understand our customers’ business needs and that they cannot afford
unscheduled downtime. Many of these projects are vital to ensure regular power
supply to mining projects and other sectors, so our speed, understanding, and
service delivery are all essential,” Botton says.
All M&C branches also have direct access to the Centre of Excellence in
Cleveland, Johannesburg, which has a 32-tonne balancing machine, extensive
testing capabilities, and a fully equipped machine shop, including CNC machines.
“Our long-term strategy is to become the preferred integrated electrical and
mechanical services provider for the power generation and mining industries
in Africa and across the globe,” says Botton. “What gives us the leading edge
in terms of these African contracts is that we can leverage the other divisions
within the Actom Group to provide us with additional manufacturing capability,
products, and expertise.”
Marthinusen & Coutts is
consolidating its role as
an integrated electrical
and mechanical services
provider across Africa and
internationally.
NOVEMBER 2017
5