Mechanical Technology August 2016

⎪ Local manufacturing and beneficiation ⎪

similar systems at other WEG facilities joined the local team and the system went live mid-June with the support of the full team. Vargas pays tribute to the imple- mentation team and all at Zest WEG Group manufacturing operations as he underscores the fact that on day one of going live it was possible for all facilities to operate normally. “We cannot say it was effortless, but we can say that the implementation was thorough and customers have already started realising the benefits of the significant investment WEG has made in the four manufacturing operations,” Vargas says. Meiring concludes by confirming that being responsive to the market has always been the cornerstone of Zest WEG Group’s success on the African continent. “It is this ability to adapt our business that we believe will enable us to become the supplier of choice to the market,” he predicts. q

in manufacturing. This took place over a three-week period to ensure in-depth assessment of all four facilities. Comparisons were done with WEG facilities in Colombia, Brazil and Mexico. These operations produce the same or similar products, which meant that the manufacturing processes are the same and similar. These facilities already complied with WEG best practices and Vargas says that some had done so for more than twenty years. “The resultant gap analysis between the Zest WEG Group status and that of WEG’s best practices formed the founda- tion from which the implementation stage began,” Vargas adds. The gap assessment was discussed in depth with WEG Brazil and the implementation plan was developed in conjunction with a local partner in South Africa. The implementation phase started in March this year and consisted of a couple of facets. A team of practitioners from Brazil that had already implemented

stages started mid-2015 when the align- ment between the Zest WEG Group and the WEG teams was initiated. In November 2015, a team of skilled practitioners from WEG Brazil visited the South African facilities to assess these operations and establish the status compared to WEG global best practices

Relocation creates Africa’s largest plug and socket manufacturer C omponent, equipment and system engineering specialist, Powermite’s range of electrical products are

engineering applications as well as on min- ing machinery operating in underground and opencast mines such as continuous miners, shuttle cars, pumps, tunnel borers and trans- formers. The ISO 9001:2008 compliant products carry SABS approval to IEC 60079 Part 1 and 2 and SANS 1489 – 2005, and to 60309 Part 1 and 2. As a leading industrial plugs and sockets manufacturer for over 30 years, Ampco’s unique interlocking design prevents end- users from removing the plug under load, while the application of LM 6 reduces the possibility of corrosion and extends product life. Ampco’s range of CEE products are manufactured to SANS 60309 Part 1 and Part 2 standards.

Proof Engineering is a flame- and explosion-proof product specialist with over 45 years’ experience in the manufacture of world-class components, equipment and systems. Proof produces plugs and sockets as well as tunnel couplers and adaptors for underground and open cast applications and couplers for draglines. More recent additions include couplers and adaptors for overhead-line skids. Proof Engineering set a benchmark when the company introduced its ProAlloy coupler manufactured from non-theft material, which consists of a combination of zinc, copper and aluminium. The coupler is 33% lighter than its brass counterpart and, most importantly, holds no resale value. q

now manufactured locally by Ampco and Proof Engineering under one roof in a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. This combined operation enhances product and service delivery. Ampco relocated to the manufactur- ing facility, which is on Johannesburg’s Westrand, in December 2013, and was joined in November of 2015 by Proof Engineering and Azolite. “Pooling talent and resources across both businesses has created the largest plug and socket manufacturer under one roof in Africa,” says Powermite’s marketing director, Donovan Marks. “The combined strengths and syn- ergies of the two companies have lowered our cost base and improved efficiencies across the board. This move has also re- sulted in more streamlined processes and logistics, adding further value to our local manufacturing capabilities and ensuring rapid products and spares availability. In line with our customer-centric approach, we pass all these benefits on to our customers and end-users to assist them with optimal plant availability and production.” The range of electrical products, haz- ardous lighting products and components from Proof Engineering and Ampco, part of Powermite, a Hudaco Group company, are used on mobile generators, pumps and weld- ing machines, marine, industrial and general

Powermite, Ampco, Proof Engineering and Azolite products are now all manufactured out of a facil- ity on Johannesburg’s Westrand, now the largest plug and socket manufacturer under one roof in Africa.

Mechanical Technology — August 2016

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