The South African division of global advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) and quenched and tempered (Q&T) steel producer SSAB – SSAB South Africa – acquired South African wear specialist company WearClad in October last year, enabling the company to establish its own wear specialist branch – Hardox Wearparts Centre Gauteng.

Hardox Wearparts Centre Gauteng wear services manager Ross Wylie notes the acquisition has enabled the company to get closer to end-users, particularly mines, petrochemical plants and cement mills, since WearClad had already established working relationships in these sectors.

“The acquisition has assisted us in providing a full service offering for our customers. We can now cut steel plates to size or fabricate steel plates for the intended wear application,” he explains.

SSAB South Africa has two subdivisions, Hardox Wearparts Centre Gauteng and value-added service and solutions provider SSAB Shape, which designs solutions using AHSS and Q&T steel in lifting, trailer and truck bodies, agriculture, forestry, fishing and industrial production applications.

SSAB Shape value-added services manager Raymond Rautenbach tells Engineering News that one of the key services this subdivision provides is designing solutions for original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs). “We advise OEMs on upgrading equipment using AHSS and Q&T steel. We are able to supply the steel and the technical design support when using AHSS and Q&T steel.”

SSAB Shape also offers steel-processing services, such as plasma and laser cutting, bending and drilling. The business unit also provides AHSS tubes and coated pipes that have a resistance of between 550 MPa and 960 MPa.

The subdivision also offers solutions in logistics stock system management – from SSAB’s mills worldwide to SSAB South Africa. “We assist companies in managing their steel inventory to help them improve their cash flow,” comments Rautenbach.