Aveng Manufacturing
Aveng hones its manufacturing skills JSE-listed diversified infrastructure company Aveng has regrouped its manufacturing business units into a more relevant and aligned operating division. Africa Outlook learns more. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Tom Cullum Aveng is one of South Africa's top diversified engineering and construction groups and like other building firms in Africa's top economy it has grappled with sluggish demand. But it has responded and has regrouped certain business units into more relevant and aligned operating groups. Aveng Manufacturing used to have four business units and now consists of six - namely Aveng Manufacturing Automation and Control Systems (ACS), a leader in South Africa in the field of process control instrumentation, process systems solutions, machinery health monitoring equipment and services and engineered fire and gas detection systems and solutions; Aveng Manufacturing Infraset, which manufactures concrete products for the infrastructural market – from rail to landscaping; Aveng Manufacturing Duraset, which manufactures steel and concrete products for the mining industry; Aveng Manufacturing DFC, a manufacturer of valves for the water, effluent and the mineral processing industry; Aveng Manufacturing Lennings Rail Services, which builds a sophisticated range of rail machines and constructs and maintains railway lines for its rail customers; and Aveng Manufacturing Facades, a specialist division that offers the design, manufacture, supply and installation of curtain walling over cladding systems and specialist shop front glazing solutions. Facades and ACS are new kids on the block, so to speak, added to an operating group which aims to become the "leading supplier of products, services and solutions to…
Dale Spiral Systems & Bakery Automation
On the rise Dale Spiral Systems and Bakery Automation are specialists in plant bakery and freezing systems. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Tom Cullum Dale Spiral Systems and Bakery Automation is the brainchild of Christopher Dale. Founded in 1999, the Johannesburg-based company's success has been remarkable. Its first order for equipment was for two double drum spiral coolers for Albany bakery in Germiston and first freezer order was for IQF chicken portions and was awarded by Tswana Pride, a Botswana-based company. From these humble beginnings it has achieved some incredible things. "I was working in the petrochemical industry in Australia and I returned back to the UK," says British-born Mr Dale. "On my arrival a new company had started up called Triphase of which I was one of the first employees. Slowly, over 13 or 14 years, we built that company up to be quite a successful British company of which I became the works director. They then secured three large contracts in South Africa and at this point my wife, who is British but lived in South Africa, and I jumped at the opportunity and we ended up in the country with Triphase. But promises, promises, it didn't work out and I eventually started my own company." When forming Dale Spiral Systems and Bakery Automation, his goal was not just to branch out alone. He had a bigger, grander picture. "It wasn't just a case of going it alone," he says. "I had done all the hard work on the sales front for 20 months…
Marce Fire Fighting Technology
Marcé launches fire station turnkey solutions South Africa-based Marcé Fire Fighting Technology is changing the face of the fire fighting industry. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager James Mitchell With sirens ablaze and red lights flashing, a fire engine races through the streets of South Africa. Having arrived at its destination, the crews begin their rescue operation. Who supplied the fire engine they were driving? Marcé Fire Fighting Technology, a leading manufacturer, importer and exporter of fire fighting vehicles and emergency equipment. The firm was formed in 1998 and operates from premises near Pretoria. It started as an importer of fire fighting vehicles and equipment, but in 2001 management realised there was "potential" in manufacturing locally, providing that high quality standards were met. And this is what it has done. "We provide unparalleled customised solutions to the needs of emergency services and adding value to the industry," says Jan Steyn, commercial manager whose wife Danielle has been the driving force behind the business. Marcé moved into its current design, engineering and manufacturing base in Centurion last year to cater for the "rapidly growing demands for its vehicles" and after enjoying "exponential growth". The new building houses the head office and there is very tight control on quality. Virtually all the components are made on site, using the latest technology and modern equipment. This includes a large painting booth that delivers a very high quality level of finish. "Basically we have grown so fast over the last couple of years and we have had exponential growth of about…
Coca-Cola Sabco Mozambique : The Untouchables
Despite its huge share of Mozambique’s carbonated drinks market, Coca-Cola Sabco Mozambique remains thirsty for growth.
Davis & Shirtliff : Taking the Lead
Africa Outlook talks to Alec Davis, CEO of Kenya’s Davis & Shirtliff, a firm that has been rapidly expanding its horizons across the region.
Autohaus Windhoek : Wheeling Ahead
Volkswagen, Germany’s biggest carmaker, has been leaving rivals in the dust. Africa Outlook talks to JP Pretorius, Dealer Principal and Director of Autohaus Windhoek, the only distributor of the whole Volkswagen range in Namibia.
ADB Airfield Solutions
Taking to the skies As Africa continues to grow, so do its airports. ADB Airfield Solutions Southern Africa's CEO Manfred Oettl tells us more. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Nick Norris The African continent has ambitious growth and expansion plans. A key part of that is creating new airports, expanding current airports and professionalising the existing ones. In a world where airport safety remains a priority and runway incursion accidents are on the rise, technologies such as airfield lighting systems, precision approach and landing systems, surface movement radars, and visual docking guidance systems are imperative for ensuring airport safety. This is where ADB Airfield Solutions comes in, playing a major role through its comprehensive and internationally certified product range of safety solutions and management systems. The company's integrated solutions such as Advanced Surface Movement Guidance & Control Systems (A-SMGCS) include products and services to ensure safety from landing to take off, covering LED runway and taxiway lights, guidance signs and microprocessor controlled constant current regulators. "We have an innovative portfolio ranging from design and development, installation, maintenance and consulting to training," says ADB's Southern African CEO Manfred Oettl. "We're well aware of the potential in Africa for our business and our solutions support airport operations and enable them improve their performance and reliability." Worldwide, ADB's solutions have been successfully integrated across 2,000 civil and military airports and heliports. The company was incorporated in 2008 and is based in Johannesburg. ADB Airfield Solutions (PTY) Ltd operates as a subsidiary of ADB BVBA. "There will be a lot…
Feltex Automotive
King of the trim Africa Outlook profiles Feltex Automotive a leading supplier of a wide range of quality automotive acoustic, comfort and trim components. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Tom Lloyd Is this a good time to be involved in South Africa's car industry? Well yes: South African car sales in Q1 increased 4.1 percent from 156,673 vehicles to 163,239 vehicles and according to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) the motor industry sailed a steady course during the first quarter of this year. Naamsa director Nico Vermeulen said production at South African plants was "well on track", and that "if production continues at the levels seen in the first four months of the year," production growth could come in "as high as 25 percent". However he said Naamsa was "remaining conservative," and maintaining a prediction of 18 percent (or about 640,000 units) production growth for the year. It's good news but according to Econometrix chief economist Dr Azar Jammine we should expect a "sharp slowdown in domestic sales growth" later this year. Whatever happens, increasing sales is good news for manufacturers like Feltex Automotive, a leading South African supplier of quality automotive acoustic, comfort and trim components. Feltex Automotive is a Division of KAP Manufacturing Proprietary Limited which is a 100 percent subsidiary of KAP International Holdings Limited. The Automotive Division comprises seven business units – Feltex Automotive Trim, Feltex Fehrer, Feltex Foam, Caravelle, Feltex Unifrax, Futuris Feltex and Autoneum Feltext - that supply products directly and indirectly to the South…
Paramount Trailers
Paramount leaves the competition trailing With construction of a new production facility underway this is an exciting time for Johannesburg-based Paramount Trailers. Africa Outlook learns more. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Ben Weaver Paramount Trailers is one of South Africa's leading and established commercial trailer manufacturers. It came from humble beginnings and has been built from the ground up over the past 16 years, with its product line originally consisting of flat decks, more specifically superlinks and triaxles. In recent years it has evolved as a company by diversifying its product range and bringing more options to market - commercial trailers such as skeletal trailers, stepdeck trailers and tippers, for example. Today it manufacturers just about everything, says Financial Director Paulo Ribeiro. "We have quite an extensive product range," he enthuses. The result is that Paramount enjoyed "solid" 2012, despite the prevailing economic headwinds that hit other trailer manufacturers. "Following on from a tough couple of years, we had a difficult first half to the year; the economy was flat, there was nothing spectacular happening and it was a concern for us as a business," Ribeiro admits. "But towards the latter half of the year we picked up one or two large contracts which really turned the year around and, in tough economic conditions, it ended up being a fairly productive and good year from a business perspective." Ribeiro says that one of the main reasons for the company's success during 2012, and indeed the last few years, was its strategy to expand and diversify its…
PFK Electronics
Elementary my dear Watson The acquisition of Pi Shurlok has enabled Durban based PFK Electronics to diversify says MD Gary Stanton who talks to Africa Outlook. Writer Ian Armitage Project manager Eleanor Watson This is a pivotal moment in the history of Durban-based PFK Electronics. The firm is a renowned designer and manufacturer of aftermarket electronic vehicle systems, telematics systems, and alcohol interlock devices, and in November it completed the acquisition of automotive electronic components manufacturer Pi Shurlok. It was a watershed moment and will enable the company to diversify and expand. That was the point, says managing director Gary Stanton. "It is a bid to diversify our core business to include the manufacture of vehicle components for local and international original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)," he explains. More than that, it increased production capacity – significant growth within PFK Electronics over the last five years meant it lacked production capacity. "The last 18 months have been very interesting," says Stanton. "We've had some fantastic organic growth in the business both through existing customers and products but also with the introduction of new products that we've designed ourselves. On top of that, in the last six months, we have acquired Pi Shurlok which adds capacity from a production point of view and turnover diversification as well. It means we are now firmly entrenched in the aftermarket and the OEM market. "Our organic growth has been very aggressive. PFK Electronics has been growing as a company by about 30 percent each year for the past six years. Pi…
