Despite the negative effects of illegal mining and copper scrap exports on the confidence levels of international investors and clients, South Africa-based foundry and engineering company Thos Begbie has managed to secure a large number of new international clients.

The company’s direct marketing drive – undertaken at foundry trade fair GIFA 2023, held in Dusseldorf, Germany, in June – resulted in its supplying furnace and electrode column copper components, and blast furnace components, besides others, to new clients.

“Face-to-face interactions with copper miners and manufacturers were successfully undertaken by our representatives at the event,” says Thos Begbie sales manager Scott Paterson.

Since then, the company has provided quotes and has received orders from export markets, and will supply its products to companies in Turkey, Indonesia and Colombia.

“These new orders and quotes have the potential to bring our new clients order book to about R103-million,” enthuses Paterson.

He says that, over the past year, Thos Begbie has been fortunate enough to reintegrate new technology into the company’s production processes, which further cements its standing with international clients.

The technologies include the installation and commissioning of three new computer numerical control machining machines, of which two are vertical milling machines and one a deep hole drilling or honing machine.

“This has definitely improved the quality and production output of our copper-manufactured equipment,” says Paterson.

Delivery Dilemma

A lack of effective and reliable port processes and systems, in KwaZulu-Natal, often delays exporters in reaching their delivery deadlines.

It is difficult to ascertain and confirm forecast shiploading and sailing dates with Durban port officials. This, in turn, has a negative impact on loading the goods at Thos Begbie’s facilities and on meeting “stacking” deadlines for shipping containers destined for overseas markets, Paterson adds.

The theft of copper and copper processing equipment during this export process may also have a negative effect on reassuring its internationally based customers that purchasing these items from South Africa is still safe and reliable.

To mitigate the nationwide power supply issue, Thos Begbie has implemented a mitigation plan to curb times of grid unavailability.

“By receiving direct power from our power generation plant, Thos Begbie can continue with operations using uninterrupted power supply,” he concludes.