Local Manufacturing
SUPPORTING LOCAL MANUFACTURERS
IN THEIR DRIVE FOR QUALITY
By Benjamin Brits
HVAC start-up , Diffusion Air Technologies , has gained the trust of the market by sticking with a quality methodology in their production .
Having spent 28 years in the industry with various OEMs , Marius
Venter founded Greenvent as an import and wholesale business . His timing was unlucky : as he launched his venture , importers and wholesalers came under immense pressure as the effects of the 2008 financial crash were felt .
Even though trading conditions improved , some items remained in very short supply . These included double deflection grilles . When the old Apache factory ’ s then owners decided to exit manufacturing of grilles and louvres , an opportunity to buy the operation presented itself in 2016 .
With his partner , Werner Kruger , they concluded a deal to take over the factory and founded Diffusion Air Technologies ( DAT ). “ The factory itself was already established and had proven reliable and capable of producing a range of products , and was equipped for mass production through having bigger dies and more presses to handle higher capacity . If we put in one specific type of profile to focus on , we can produce anything up to 170 grilles in a day ,” explained Venter .
“ With a significant portion of the process being machine-driven , every part is exactly the same as the next , creating consistent quality . This is one of our big advantages in the market today ,” added Kruger .
A RANGE OF INTERNATIONAL QUALITY PRODUCTS , PLUS CUSTOMISED SOLUTIONS Catering primarily to air-conditioning , ventilation and extraction contractors , and also to building sector contractors , products manufactured at the factory include weather louvres , single and double deflection grilles , return air grilles , hinged return air grilles ( with filter media ), door grilles and opposite blade dampers ( OBDs ), compatible with both single and double deflection grilles .
“ The focus on price in South Africa has driven a ‘ race to the bottom ’ in terms of quality . Low-quality products may cost less , but lead to disappointed customers wanting to hold suppliers accountable rather than take responsibility for their own choices . We have always sought to maintain a balance between quality and value so that everyone wins . We are proud of the fact that some of the grilles
All photos by RACA Journal
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1 . The Diffusion Air Technologies team with partners Werner Kruger ( left ), and Marius Venter .
2 . Completed orders ready for dispatch . 3 . The Diffusion Air Technologies factory and stockholding area .
www . hvacronline . co . za RACA Journal I February 2021 47