Bitcon Industries, South Africa’s leading fire, security and transformer door manufacturer, has secured more major orders as its export drive into sub-Saharan Africa continues.

Bob Vollmer, director of Bitcon, says the company recently supplied Rubidor Class A and B fire doors to WBHO, the main contractor for the construction of West Hills Mall in Accra, Ghana. Developed by The Atterbury Group in conjunction with the Social Security National Insurance Trust of Ghana, West Hills Mall is set to become the largest single-phase modern shopping centre in the Ghanaian capital.

West Hills Mall, which has Shoprite Checkers as anchor tenant, is situated in a rapidly developing middle-class residential node and will also have South African giant retailers such as Edgars, Jet, Foschini, and Woolworths as key tenants.

Bitcon also secured orders to supply Rubidor fire doors to the new Accra Financial Centre, also in the capital of Ghana; Rubidor fire doors to the iTowers development in Gaborone, Botswana; and Rubidor fire doors - finished in two-panel Formica - to the new FNB Freedom Plaza being built in Windhoek, Namibia.

Prior to this spate of new contracts, Bitcon has in recent years also completed Rubidor fire door orders for the Blaise Diagne International Airport in Dakar, Senegal; the Levy Business Park and Hotel in Lusaka, Zambia; and extensions to the Mount Meru Hotel in Arusha, Tanzania.

Bitcon, a subsidiary of Vitrex, operates from a high-tech plant in Jet Park from where its Rubidor fire doors; Anti-Bandit, Polar and Hippo security doors; transformer and lead-lined doors are produced.

Rubidor Class A, B & D hinged fire doors meet the requirements of SANS 1253:2003. The doors’ cores are constructed from a magnesium-oxychloride monolithic-reinforced insulating material with exceptional fire resistance and mechanical strength. Compliance with the national standard is based on successful tests for stability, integrity, insulation and impact resistance. The doors are clad with a variety of finishes including masonite, timber veneers, galvanised sheeting, Formica laminate, and edged with hardwood lipping. Double doors are fitted with rebated meeting stiles.

Bitcon also produces sliding fire doors in the Class A, B and D categories which fulfill the national test standard. The doors are available in single, bi-parting, or double direction format.