Steel supplier BBD steel, in Rosslyn, Pretoria, has become steel supplier and processing company Allied Steelrode’s exclusive distributor of Allied Steelrode Stretcher Material (ASSM) for the area.
BBD Steel supplies ASSM products to car manufacturers that are located in the Rosslyn area. BBD Steel MD Monika Pretorius explains that the automotive industry uses ASSM products in the construction of body panels and other parts.
“In the past year, we’ve acquired laser cutting facilities to focus more on the automotive market by providing more than just plates and sheets,” she says.
BBD Steel supplies automotive manufacturers with pre-cut steel and aluminium parts that adhere to strict size and shape specification. She explains that this is to increase the number of products that the company can produce.
BBD Steel business development director Gwen Mahuma highlights that the company has a stock of high tensile steel, commercial steel, I-beams and tube steel in different shapes and sizes stocked at its Rosslyn facility. The company has 39 days of steel kept in stock to supply its clients as needed.
Pretorius explains that the company is specifically stocking ASSM products owing to its ability to be used in several different ways. When steel is uncoiled, it has waves that undulate throughout it. This causes stresses and other undesirable effects on the steel.
She highlights that by stretching the steel, the stresses are removed and the sheets that are created can be levelled and are safe to be used on laser cutting machines without damaging cutting heads.
Mahuma concludes that the company has been working extremely well and synergistically together with Allied Steelrode, owing to the two companies having very similar business and operational ethos and values.