Quality of product is the ultimate test when it comes to meeting the challenge of harsh mining conditions on the African continent. This is the view of Chris Spacey, export executive at Vital Engineering, a Johannesburg-based company with over 70 years’ experience in supplying products to the mining industry in over 20 countries throughout the African continent.

“We are constantly developing new products for challenging mining environments and have supplied in excess of 10 000 t of product over the last five years alone to the African mining industry, including gold, coal, uranium, copper and cobalt,” he says.

Vital Engineering, which is exhibiting at this year’s Electra Mining Africa, manufactures Vitagrid non-slip floor gratings, stair treads, expanded metals and hand railings in galvanised steel, fibreglass, stainless steel and aluminium. In addition to the petrochemical, power generation and structural engineering industries, the company supplies a number of Australian and Canadian mining companies, operating in Africa.

“Our products are supplied to gold mines in Burkino Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Namibia and Tanzania; copper and cobalt mines in the DRC [Democratic Republic of Congo], Zambia, Namibia and Uganda, nickel mines in Madagascar and Tanzania, and coal mines in Mozambique. We also supply uranium mines in Namibia and Malawi, as well as a kimberlite mine in Sierra Leone.”

With substantial growth prospects and investment opportunities in Africa, Vital Engineering sees a major mining investment shift happening on the continent, and has positioned itself to meet demand with both a wide and varied stockholding and reliable service deliveries.

“On-time delivery is a must where safety is priority in the mining industry,” notes Spacey. “Our dedicated, in-house export division has the necessary experience when it comes to accommodating our clients’ delivery requirements.”

With ever-intensifying competition from other markets, notably China, Vital Engineering keeps a sharp focus on continually seeking the most cost-effective solutions for its clients in developing mining countries.

“We work closely with a wide spectrum of consultants and EPCM [engineering, procurement and construction management] companies in finding the most economical, best-of-breed solution to meet their budgets and performance requirements without compromising on safety and quality,” says Vital Engineering MD Dodds Pringle.

“Vital Engineering’s cost of installation is extremely economical, with little or no down- time on site as a result of pre-trial layouts prior to shipping, no re-work at high day work costs, and first-time fitment.”

According to Pringle, all these factors, as well as reduced shipping time, in-house inspections and easier communications make for affordable products, enabling Vital Engineering to continue to be a competitive market leader.

“Opportunities in Africa abound, but one can never rest on one’s laurels,” says Pringle.

“An important part of our work, therefore, is to monitor current and new mining projects on a daily basis. Regular field trips by our export team also help to keep us abreast of developments in the mining industry.

We believe that our vast experience on the continent will continue to help us find new and better ways in which to service our clients,” he concludes.

Hall 6 Stand F17

Caption:

DODDS PRINGLE
Vital Engineering MD