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Manufacturer showcases new fibreglass range

IDEAL MATERIAL Fibreglass is fire-retardant, non-conductive and non-slippery, with a quartz-grit top surface

31st October 2014

By: Pimani Baloyi

Creamer Media Writer

  

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Gratings, stair treads, pressed floors and safety handrails manufacturer Vital Engineering last month showcased its range of fibreglass products to the local mining industry.

The range was introduced at this year’s Electra Mining Africa exhibition, which took place in Johannesburg from September 15 to 19.

Vital Engineering MD Dodds Pringle tells Mining Weekly that the company’s new fibreglass products are designed to withstand harsh and corrosive mining conditions. The fibreglass gratings, for instance, are best suited to the mining and water-treatment sectors, as they are anticorrosive and require minimal maintenance.

He highlights that fibreglass is an ideal alternative to steel and stainless steel, specifically in the mining industry, which is characterised by corrosive and harsh environments. Pringle adds that the company’s Vitaglass gratings are easier to handle and install than steel gratings, as they are half the weight. Further, fibreglass is fire retardant, nonconductive and nonslip, with a quartz-grit top surface.

“So far, the market’s response to our fibreglass products has been positive, with mining and mining-contracting companies specifying Vitaglass for their floor gratings,” says Pringle.

He adds that the fibreglass gratings are manufactured with continuous glass fibre strands interwoven in both directions using thermosetting resins.

Pringle further highlights Vital Engineering’s Vitaclamp grating clamp, which was developed to address safety risks on construction sites, particularly in vibratory environments. The Vitaclamp allows for substantial cost savings as the fibreglass or steel gratings can now be fixed on the walking surface as opposed to its underside, explains Pringle.

He asserts that Vital Engineering’s fibreglass products have been manufactured to suit the rough mining conditions, remote locations and harsh climate of Africa, which the company says demands hard-wearing and versatile materials that have been designed for optimum safety.

“We are constantly developing new products for challenging environments, where we identify the most cost-effective and practical solutions for our clients in developing industrialised countries, with safety as our number one consideration,” Pringle highlights, adding that the company has supplied more than 10 000 t of product over the past five years to the African mining industry.

He notes that these fibreglass products are best applied on conveyor walkways, taking into consideration the load-bearing requirements and ensuring that the product is in line with all relevant specifications, as well as for applications such as floors, handrails and stairs, among others.

Competitive Edge
Pringle tells Mining Weekly that the local steel fabrication industry faces the ongoing challenge of having to compete with lower prices in the international market, which often leads to local companies compromising on quality to reduce costs.

However, he adds that Vital Engineering is committed to manufacturing and distributing high-quality products that prioritise operator and operating safety, and are not purely determined by price considerations.

Pringle explains that Vital Engineering is passionate about using local skills and products to support the South African economy, despite the trend of companies seeking lower prices from overseas suppliers. This concern is compounded by the perception that the price of steel in South Africa is disproportionately higher than in most international markets.

However, Pringle adds that South Africa’s steel is “of extremely good quality” and “compares favourably” with material substitution favoured by other international competitors in the steel industry.

“We are, therefore, faced with an ongoing process of educating clients – particularly our international clients working throughout Africa – about the benefits of our high-quality products and the long-term savings from which they stand to benefit. “Slowly, we are finding that clients are starting to specify the inclusion of South African steel products in their orders,” he elaborates.

Pringle maintains that, to remain competitive in the current tough economic conditions, companies need to focus on health and safety, which is why Vital Engineering continuously tries to find ways to offer clients improved value for money without compromising on quality. The company also invests considerably in research and development.

Pringle says Vital Engineering has various platforms through which it garners feedback from clients, such as conducting regular risk assessments.

Vital Engineering’s clients operate in the mining, petrochemicals, power generation and structural engineering industries and include several Australian and Canadian mining companies operating outside South Africa. This includes projects and clients in Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Namibia and Botswana.

Pringle concludes that Vital Engineering manufactures products using both steel and fibreglass and believes that both materials offer a competitive advantage in terms of project cost savings, efficiencies, quality and safety.

Edited by Samantha Herbst
Creamer Media Deputy Editor

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