Cable manufacturing company Aberdare Cables has an exclusive agreement with mining machinery manufacturer Joy Mining Machinery for the supply of on-board screened cables for Joy Mining's underground mining equipment.

Aberdare Cables elastomeric product manager Peter Venter says that Joy Mining took the initiative to supply intrinsically safe cables on their machines and Aberdare Cables designed a range of cables specifically for Joy Mining Machinery.

Joy Mining Machinery uses the cables as on-board cabling for the company's extensive range of mining machinery. Venter says the cables meet the safety requirements as stipulated by the Department of Minerals and Energy, as well as all flameproof requirements.

The agreement between the two companies for the supply of the cables, was undertaken about 12 years ago as an open contract, and Venter says that growth in the demand for cables is expected to rise, as the demand for coal increases in line with power utility Eskom's power-station refurbishment programme. Meanwhile, Aberdare Cables is putting strategies in place to meet the expected growth.

"Aberdare Cables has got strategic plans in place to facilitate this expected growth, not only in the coal industry, but also in the mining industry in general," Venter says.

He explains that the company's involvement with Joy Mining Machinery since the inception of the design of Joy's initial cable range, has been fortuitous to both companies, and has lead to opportunities presenting themselves, owing to Joy Mining Machinery's global footprint.

Aberdare Cables is an African cable manufacturer and member of the electrical technologies supply company, the Powertech Group, which is part of the Altron Group. Aberdare was started in 1946 and is currently associated with financial investor Izingwe, which is a 30% empowerment partner in the company.

The company has seven manufacturing sites, in three provinces of South Africa and in Mozambique, Portugal and Spain. Aberdare's customer base includes power supply authorities, railway and transport organisations, municipalities, and petrochemicals, mining and industrial companies. The company is an active member of the community, with extensive social programmes.

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