Local Manufacturing
ELECTROVENT THRIVES
AS A LOCAL MANUFACTURER
By Ntsako Khosa
Electrovent is an established manufacturer and supplier of HVAC components in
the South African market.
M
ark Stanford, MD of the business, took RACA Journal
through the Cape Town factory. “We operate six
individual factory units,” he says. Each factory unit is equipped
to fabricate and assemble components and final products.
Electrovent is SABS approved and certified to manufacture
fire damper products, with the manufacturing facility
additionally being ISO 9001:2015 accredited. Manufactured
products include SABS certified fire dampers, smoke, control
and non-return dampers and airtight plantroom doors
supplied countrywide.
GETTING AHEAD AND STAYING AHEAD
With a history spanning more than four decades, Stanford
acquired the business in 2017 and expanded the footprint
adding three more units. Materials and components are
sourced from proudly South African suppliers where possible,
and all assembly is completed in the local factory. With a staff
complement of 40, 31 work in the factory. “The operation is
run with the common understanding that our clients come
first. Our focus is on offering the highest level of service and
quality products at competitive pricing while maintaining
short lead times,” Stanford says.
Surviving in the manufacturing industry can be tough
considering how a lot of plants have shut down over the
years, owing to tough working conditions, like government
and union interference. According to Stanford, how
they have kept abreast is by partnering with competent,
dependable suppliers as well as maintaining a skilled
workforce through upskilling and training. “The factory staff
have their own welding background and we provide mostly
on-the-job training. We consider ourselves a family, so we
treat everyone with respect, families sometimes fight but
we resolve our own issues, it’s rare that unions are involved.
We look after one another.”
Staff at the Cape Town office and manufacturing facility.
www.hvacronline.co.za
RACA Journal I May 2020
69