Mozambican aluminium smelter awards a R4-million contract!

leading gauteng manufacturer of industrial heating elements and affiliated products hi-tech elements has been awarded a r4-million contract for the expansion of bhp billiton's mozambique aluminium (mozal) smelter near maputo.
the expansion project, mozal ii, involves the establishment of additional facilities at the carbon plant, casthouse and the harbour, as well as the construction of a new potline and additional gas-treatment management equipment.

the company's contract is for all the ladle-heating and preheating equipment for the project, including the heating equipment needed for the build-up process of the plant.

all crane, programmable logic controller and local control equipment for the heating systems are included in the supply by the company.

manufacturing, which will all be carried out at the company's gauteng works, began in december with delivery scheduled for mid-2002.

the equipment will be transported to maputo for commissioning, which is expected to begin in the second half of this year.

hi-tech was also responsible for supplying all the heating equipment for the initial 'phase 1' of this project.

formed in 1992 with a staff of only six members, the company has grown from supplying spare parts to industry to a company with 32 members of staff which produces and supplies turnkey projects.

at first the company was mainly focused on supplying to the plastics industry, but it now serves most industries that use heating in some form or another including the plastic, oil, cooling, petrochemical, rubber and textile industries.

according to technical director shaun bester, the company's strength lies in its ability to design, manufacture, install and commission elements or heating systems.

"we grew fast because we had a lot to offer the industry," he says.

"what used to happen was that industry would buy the spare part (element) from us, somebody else would manufacture the required structures, somebody else would manufacture the control systems and so on.

but, now, we are able to do it all.

"we are one of only a few heating companies in south africa who are able to carry out a complete turnkey project," continues bester.

he maintains that the company offers one of the most diverse product ranges in south africa.

all its products are custom-manufactured to suit the clients' specific requirements.

the company does most of its own work for heavy industry, including ovens, furnaces, inline heating and ladle heating.

the company exports to a number of african countries, such as tanzania, zambia and botswana.

speaking on general trends in the industry, bester says that business is not what it should be.

"we are fortunate to have the contracts that we currently have at the moment, because the industry overall is quiet," he remarks.

bester says that the current financial climate following the decline in the exchange rate has meant that the company has begun to feel a substantial increase in prices.

he notes that he does not feel that the market is saturated though.

"the fact of the matter is that our company can still offer competitive heating equipment to the industry, based on the amount of equipment that is still being imported.

essentially any heating system or equipment imported today, irrespective of what product it is, can be offered by hi-tech elements," he concludes.