DPI Trading has supplied a range of pipe and fittings to Ruwacon Civils of Bloemfontein, the main contractor on the Nduli Reservoir project in Ceres for the Witzenberg Municipality.

The 4.5 megalitre reservoir will not only supply water to the existing Nduli community, but also cater for future low-cost housing developments, Ruwacon Civils Construction Manager Adriaan Liebenbergh highlights. The project commenced in March, and is scheduled for completion at end January 2018.

DPI Trading’s component of the project comprised the supply of Grade 316 steel pipe and fabricated fittings (200 mm, 250 mm, and 400 mm diameters). In addition, it supplied a small quantity of HDPE and uPVC pressure pipes. “We were successful in securing this contract due to the fact that we were able to supply a full basket of products, which means no need to deal with multiple suppliers. Our pricing is also highly competitive, in addition to offering technical advice and support where needed, such as alternative jointing options, depending on the materials and requirements,” DPI Trading Sales Agent Clayton van der Nest explains.

The project posed various technical challenges, including the connection from a larger to a smaller reservoir, which required water levels to be balanced. In addition, a variation on the original contract called for the upgrade and replacement of corroded steel piping.

Ruwacon Civils is one of a few construction companies with 51% black ownership, and a 9GBPE CIDB rating. It has a yearly turnover of over R1 billion, a workforce of about 1 500, and is currently engaged on about 70 active sites across Southern Africa. Projects completed recently include the R199 million St Patrick’s Hospital in Bizana for the Eastern Cape Department of Health, and the R189 million Busamed Harrismith Private Hospital in the Free State.

DPI Trading has a longstanding relationship with Ruwacon Civils, having collaborated with the civil contractor on various water and sewer projects through the years. Based at Bellville in the Western Cape, DPI Trading is a division of the larger national Incledon Group.