As a trusted player in this demanding space, hydraulic cylinder solutions manufacturer the Honingcraft Group has established itself as an integrated engineering solutions partner.

Operating across 12 000 m2 of specialised factory floor space divided between key industrial hubs in Johannesburg and Gqeberha, and backed by a significant combined lifting capacity of 120 t, the group provides highly specialised surface finishing, comprehensive cylinder component manufacturing and electroplating services.

While many conventional companies offer standard steel supply, basic honing and rudimentary chroming, Honingcraft stands out by anchoring its operation in a single, powerful philosophy: the Total Support concept.

While high-quality honed tubes, chrome-plated bars and precision-machined cylinder components form the physical foundation of Honingcraft’s catalogue, it is the group’s extensive value-added services that redefine its client relationships.

Although procurement teams historically viewed surface finishing firms as transactional raw material suppliers, Honingcraft has become a critical, high-tier contract manufacturer for major global and local original equipment manufacturers and brand names.

This transition relies heavily on providing comprehensive, end-to-end operational solutions rather than piecemeal products.

The Total Support model is engineered to provide hydraulic cylinder manufacturers with an uninterrupted, single-source supply chain that actively mitigates technical risks, reduces administrative friction and eliminates costly operational downtime.

To achieve this level of supply chain integration, Honingcraft leverages its array of heavy machinery, including specialised boring and threading lathes that are capable of handling big workpieces with strict concentricity constraints.

High-precision computer numerical control (CNC) honing machinery uses crosshatch patterning to ensure optimal oil retention and seal longevity in hydraulic cylinders.

Honingcraft’s high-capacity industrial chrome plant operates one of the biggest shaft-chroming plants in Africa across the Honingcraft Moser and Honingcraft Jünger business units. Backed by 100 t of combined overhead cranage, the plant can process large shafts up to 1 000 mm in diameter and up to 10 000 mm in length.

Internal and external grinding equipment achieves sub-micron dimensional tolerances, while deep-hole drilling equipment is designed to drill out solid steel round bar billets up to 600 mm in diameter and 4 m in length. This drilling capability enables the custom manufacturing of high-pressure components such as thick-walled hydraulic cylinders, conveyor rollers and dynamometer rolls.

Advanced laser cladding systems enable the company to fuse metallic alloy powders directly onto the base metal to provide a pore-free barrier that is significantly harder and denser than traditional coatings.

In addition, Honingcraft’s dedicated logistics fleet ensures that high-value, delicate precision components are transported safely and delivered directly to client facilities without relying on erratic third-party couriers.

By controlling every stage of the manufacturing process, Honingcraft removes the risk of cumulative tolerance errors that often occur when a component is passed between multiple independent vendors.

The Core Triad

The true strength of the Total Support model lies in the synergistic relationship between Honingcraft, Moser Hard Chrome and Honingcraft Jünger, each bringing a distinct, specialised capability to the fabrication and refurbishment ecosystem.

Honingcraft is the precision machining and honing powerhouse of the group, specialising in the supply and precision modification of hydraulic cylinder components.

Its CNC honing operations ensure that geometric errors such as taper, waviness and out-of-roundness are corrected to within micrometres – precision that is vital for maintaining the high-pressure seals required in heavy-duty excavators, industrial presses and earthmoving machinery.

Moser Hard Chrome provides advanced electroplating and surface engineering. Industrial components operating in highly corrosive or abrasive environments, such as marine applications or underground mining, require specialised surface protection.

Through precise electroplating processes, Moser applies a dense, ultra-hard layer of chromium to steel bars and internal bores to increase surface hardness, lower the coefficient of friction and provide resistance to corrosion and micro-abrasion.

Moser’s specialised tanks can accommodate long and heavy components.

Acquired by the group in 2015, Honingcraft Jünger mirrors the services offered by the primary Honingcraft facilities, while expanding the group’s operational footprint directly into Gqeberha and the wider Eastern Cape. This facility carries extensive local stocks of tubing, chrome bars and complete cylinder kits for rapid distribution.

Driving Efficiency with Business Intelligence

Honingcraft is currently implementing a proprietary business intelligence system designed to streamline customer workflows, optimise shop-floor scheduling and increase internal administrative accuracy.

Once fully integrated across all departments, this intelligent dashboard will feature specialised capabilities that interface directly with Sage enterprise resource planning.

The system bypasses traditional bottlenecks by enabling precise, department- specific quote generation and continuous, automated real-time job-tracking.