Specialist bolt, nut and tool supplier the Bolt & Engineering Distributors (BED) group is currently supplying specialised fasteners to large infrastructure projects in South Africa, such as the soccer stadiums that are being built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The fasteners are designed by contractors and are supplied by BED. It is being used in the roof structure of the Green Point stadium, in Cape Town, the Moses Mabhida stadium, in Durban, and the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium, in Port Elizabeth.

“It is projects of this nature that contribute to the fasteners industry, and keeps it alive,” says BED MD Mike Giltrow.

The recession has had an impact on many companies locally and globally, but BED reports that it is involved in many infrastructure projects. “We try to mainitain strong relationships with construction companies in the infrastructure industry. We are also involved with the bus rapid transit system, which aims to ease the congestion between Pretoria and Johannesburg,” Giltrow explains.

The company is also working on expanding its repair and service centre. “We have increased the types of work conducted at the centre. We now repair power tools, pneumatic tools and welding machines. We also provide an after service, as well as a warranty or guarantee on our products,” says Giltrow.

He adds that, although the service centre is a small part of the business, the company is working on launching a mobile service unit for on-site repairs or maintenance. Giltrow says: “Everybody in the company plays an important role in providing service delivery to clients.”

BED has operations established in five of the country’s provinces: Klerksdorp and Rustenburg, in the North West province, Welkom, in the Free State, Secunda and Steelpoort, in Mpumalanga, Wadeville, in Gauteng, and Ellisras, in Limpopo province. “We are considering the possibility of expanding our base into Cape Town,” says Giltrow.

Meanwhile, BED has entered into a joint venture (JV) with plant, tool and scaffold hire company Mass Hire, based in Cape Town. The new JV company, Mass Hire Rustenburg, is currenty working on its first operation.

A significant market that the company supplies its pro- ducts to is the mining industry, particularly the gold and platinum mines. BED also supplies products to the water and wastewater, petrochemicals and the pipeline industries.

As a member of the South- ern Africa Stainless Steel Deve- lopment Association, the company is promoting the use of stainless steel, which is a popular metal in the fasteners industry. As a long-standing member of the South African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC), BED is one of the sponsors of the 2009 Steel Awards to be hosted by the SAISC.

In September, the company will host an engineering exhi- bition in Klerksdorp. The yearly exhibition will attract engi- neers and other artisans in the fasteners industry.

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