Steel Construction Vol 40 No 4 - Metal Cladding and Light Steel Frame | Page 25

INDUSTRY NEWS: in brief
In summary, Fraser advises:“There is
obviously massive opportunity here, and
we have to go out and get it. There is
absolutely no profit or advantage to be
gained from being negative.”

Cost and energy-saving
benefits to the Namibian mining
sector through Renttech SA’s
branch SA Welding in Walvis
Bay
Renttech South Africa’s pan-African
expansion strategy is well on track
with the company’s new branch in
Namibia. Featuring a broad range of
well-known names in welding machinery
and consumables, lifting and rigging
equipment, as well as diesel generators and
compressors, Renttech – situated in Walvis
Bay, Namibia and trading as SA Welding
locally – is focused on the country’s mining
industry.
However, the company is also well
positioned to service the maritime,
engineering and civil industries along the
West coast and further afield.
Operating in Walvis Bay since mid-2014,
Renttech’s Namibian branch SA Welding
combines the benefits of local support and
product knowledge with global technology
solutions. These are evident in their
portfolio of brands such as Lincoln, Harris
and Gentec; as well as Renttech’s own wellknown UniArc and UniLift ranges.
For the past two years Renttech in Namibia
has been meeting a growing demand
for its rental equipment in the country’s
mining industry, particularly its range of
diesel generators and top-brand welding
equipment.
The company is also supplying a major
‘greenfields’ project at one of Namibia’s

major uranium mines, providing the
necessary equipment and consumables for
the construction of a process plant; as well
as on-site technical support for the duration
of the project, an estimated two and a half
years.

With versatility, cost-savings and energy
efficiency always in mind, Renttech has
ensured that its product range is able to
withstand harsh, outdoor environments,
with special applicability to pan-African
mining operations.

“Being able to offer on-site technical and
project support for as long as required is
an important part of Renttech’s customer
service offering. To date, we have ensured
an on-site presence on the mine since the
beginning of the contract, ensuring all
equipment and consumable requirements
are being met on a daily basis and that
there is therefore minimal down time.
This is part of our ‘total package’ solution,”
says Gerrit van Zyl, Managing Director of
Renttech South Africa.

A case in point is the company’s own
highly versatile MultiArc 350 amp inverter
which is a robust yet lightweight unit,
offering the user an easy transition between
multiple welding processes.

Welding equipment supplied by Renttech
for the uranium mining project includes
the company’s engine-driven, multi-process
welding machines; inverter welding
packages; the Harris and Gentec ranges
of gas welding and cutting equipment;
and various welding consumables such as
torches, stainless flux-cored wires as well as
various SMAW and GTAW consumables. Also
in demand are Renttech’s diesel generators
and diesel compressors, gouging machines
and personal protection equipment (PPE).
In addition, the company has supplied
various abrasives, power and hydraulic tools
to the mine’s on-site operations.
Renttech’s own Unilift range of lifting
and rigging equipment is also being
used extensively on site. Produced at its
manufacturing facility, Kelmeg Lifting
Services, lifting accessories such as
polyester slings, web slings and endless
round slings can be customised to specific
on-site requirements. Renttech also supplies
a host of other lifting/rigging equipment,
such as chain blocks, wire ropes, beam
clamps, lever hoists and shackles.

“The MultiArc 350 is ideally suited to
various mining operations: it is robust,
compact and generator-compatible while
having a built-in arc-safe function to meet
the relevant mining safety specifications
addressing acceptable OCV (open circuit
voltage) limits for welding machines,” notes
Johan van Breda, Business Development
Manager at Renttech in Namibia.
“Also the dual voltage of 380V and 525V
enables flexibility on a mining operation, be
it workshop, boilershop or plant, without
risk of damage to PC boards,” van Breda
explains.
“At Renttech it is not just about selling
or renting equipment. Rather, it is about
providing full on-site support and service –
that is, ensuring the best overall solution for
the customer that will be optimally efficient
and productive– thereby providing great
return-on-investment.

Robor exposes UNISA students
to the practical world of work
Robor recently hosted a delegation of
UNISA Science Campus under graduate
students. The main purpose behind this
initiative is to expose students to the
practical world of what they are studying at
the university.
Concepts taught include the following;
Mechanical design, Engineering drawing,
Maintenance engineering, Vibrations,
Production engineering, Operations
management, Just-in-time, Lean
manufacturing, Supply chain management,
and different manufacturing processes.
Mike Longworth presented the Robor
safety induction as well as an overview
of Robor. The students were then taken
through both the Primary and the Value
Add Manufacturing sections, followed by
refreshments in the HR Training Centre.
Two more visits by UNISA students to
Robor have been organised for later in the
year.

Steel Construction Vol. 40 No. 4 2016 23