Component, equipment and system engineering specialist, Powermite’s range of electrical products manufactured locally by Ampco and Proof Engineering, are now combined under one roof in a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, enhancing products and service delivery.

Ampco relocated to the manufacturing facility which is located on Johannesburg’s Westrand, in December 2013, and was joined in the November of 2015 by Proof Engineering and Azolite. “Pooling the talents and resources across both businesses has created the largest plug and socket manufacturer under one roof in Africa,” states Powermite Marketing Director, Donovan Marks. “The combined strengths and synergies of the two companies have lowered our cost base and improved efficiencies across the board.  This move has also resulted in more streamlined processes and logistics, adding further value to our local manufacturing capabilities which ensure rapid products and spares availability. In line with our customer-centric approach, we pass all these benefits on to our customers and end-users to assist them with optimal plant availability and production.”

The range of electrical products, hazardous lighting products and components from Proof Engineering and Ampco, part of Powermite, a Hudaco Group company, are used on mobile generators, pumps and welding machines marine, industrial and general engineering applications as well as on mining machinery operating in underground and opencast mining such as continuous miners, shuttle cars, pumps, tunnel borers, transformers, etc. The ISO9001:2008 compliant products respectively carry SABS approval to IEC60079 Part 1 and 2 and SANS 1489 – 2005, and to 60309 Part 1 and 2.

As a leading industrial plugs and sockets manufacturer for over 30 years, Ampco produces products renowned for their quality, reliability and safety. The unique interlocking design prevents the end-user from removing the plug under load while the application of LM 6 reduces the possibility of corrosion and extends product lifecycle. Ampco's range of CEE products are manufactured to SANS 60309 Part 1 and Part 2 standard.

Proof Engineering is a flame- and explosion-proof product specialist with over 45 years’ experience in the manufacture of world class components, equipment and systems. Proof produces plugs and sockets as well as tunnel couplers and adaptors for underground and open cast applications, couplers for draglines and more recent additions, couplers and adaptors for overhead line skids.

Proof Engineering set a benchmark when the company introduced the unique ProAlloy coupler. Manufactured from non-theft material which consists of a combination of zinc, copper and aluminium, the coupler is 33% lighter than its brass counterpart and most importantly, holds no resale value. “The subsequent reduction in theft risk lowers the potential for unplanned downtime and subsequent production losses,” explains Marks.

Proof Engineering through Azolite, recently introduced a range of energy saving LED lighting solutions for hazardous tunneling and underground mining applications. The new Azolite LED fluorescent lights have been fitted with an emergency back-up LED and a small charger which will continue to provide light for up to 12 hours. The range also includes a non-hazardous blue LED light which has the capability of shining through heavy dust, making it ideal for applications such as underground rescue bays.