Established more than 40 years ago, B&W Instrumentation and Electrical has grown into one of South Africa’s largest specialist electrical and instrumentation (E&I) construction groups, with a footprint throughout South Africa and across sub-Saharan Africa.

B&W, which ELB Engineering acquired in 2014, has registered companies in four countries outside South Africa, including Mozambique, Swaziland, Kenya and Namibia.

The Alberton, Gauteng-based company is a contractor in the mining, oil and gas, chemicals, utilities, renewable energy and power generation sectors and also works on industrial process plant and infrastructure projects. The company offers complementary services ranging from field engineering, equipment procurement, material supply, equipment installation, testing and commissioning.

Its full range of services encompasses:
• Construction management and supervision;
• Earthing, lightning and surge protection services;
• Supply of material (not supplied by the client);
• Procurement and inspection services;
• Installation of the E&I system including supply of tools and equipment;
• Management of skilled and unskilled labour according to the sequential installation plan;
• Calibration and commissioning post-installation, including highly specialist equipment and trained personnel; and
• Post-installation maintenance including client operator training.

B&W owns the plant and equipment it uses for projects, including 50-t rough terrain cranes, 25-t to 35-t horse and trailers, 7-t to 10-t trucks with cranes, trenching equipment, telehandlers and specialised testing equipment. Occasionally, the company hires specialised equipment.

B&W owns properties in Alrode, Alberton North, Randpark and Kendal, in Gauteng, South Africa, as well as in Mozambique, with 4 874 m2 under cover.

The company’s turnover for the financial year ended August 31, 2013, was R399-million. Recently, B&W was awarded a contract at Glencore’s Tweefontein coal mine, in Mpumalanga, and at Sasol’s Shondoni coal mine, in the same province.

B&W employs about 1 000 people, depending on the economic climate and construction activity in the sectors in which it operates.

B&W is ISO 9001:2008 accredited and holds a Nosa five-star safety rating.