Company Announcement - Surcotec, with its vast experience as the oldest established thermal spray coating company in the Western Cape, is perfectly positioned to offer professional surface coating solutions and specialised welding and mechanical component refurbishment services to OEM customers and end-users across a wide range of industries.

In addition to normal wear and tear caused by corrosion and wear components and machinery operating at the coast are further subjected to a variety of severe types of corrosion. This level 1 B-BBEE company offers a comprehensive range of world-class quality wear- and corrosion-resistant thermal spray coatings, Polymer coatings and Plasma Transferred Arc (PTA) cladding, augmented by a host of specialised allied services. In addition to the spray and finishing shops, a fully equipped engineering workshop and an on-site machining division is also housed at Surcotec’s Belville South facility.

“Our surface engineering solutions help to extend component life with substantial cost saving implications for end-users,” states Surcotec Marketing and Sales Manager, Ian Walsh. “By eliminating costly component replacements and extending component availability, we can assist end-users to improve uptime and increase their production levels.”

In April 2015, Surcotec extended its engineering capabilities through a joint venture with Gauteng-based Thermaspray, South Africa’s thermal spray coating technology specialist with almost 20 years of experience in the industry.
Thermaspray’s Managing Director, Dr. Jan Lourens also heads up Surcotec and he says that the numerous shared synergies are showing successful results not only for the two companies but most importantly, for their respective customers. “Thermaspray and Surcotec’s respective Eskom level 1 and 2 certification and compliance to ISO 9001 quality management systems are testament to our strong commitment to best-in-class quality.”

Walsh affirms that the partnership has without any doubt opened up new markets for Surcotec. “The recent addition of suitably sized equipment has given us the capability to carry out necessary repairs which has enabled us to extend our footprint into the metal industry sector.” Surcotec now has access to Polymer coatings thanks to Thermaspray’s partnerships with Plasma Coatings USA and Diamant Metallplastic Germany. The company is also benefitting from Thermaspray’s well-established systems and procedures as well as important production equipment including grinding machines and a 6-axis robot controlled plasma spray system, received from Thermaspray and installed at Surcotec.

With numerous blue chip companies included in Surcotec’s prestigious customer portfolio, the company’s comprehensive services extend to the marine, rail, refrigeration, power generation, injection moulding, sugar, petrochemical, print and packaging as well as earthmoving and construction industries across the Western Cape. In the rail sector, Thermal arc spray is applied to a wide range of components including end shields, suspension caps, compressor frames, armatures, etc. Walsh affirms that in addition to work for South Africa’s heavy haul freight rail company, Surcotec also secures work from 3rd parties. This constitutes mainly traction motor mechanical repairs and Walsh explains that Surcotec was the founding company that prototyped this metal spraying process which was approved in the 1990s for 9E motors on the Saldanha-Sishen line.

In addition to Thermal Arc and High Velocity Oxy-Fuel spraying of shafts and housings, Surcotec also carries out on-site machining on axle and wheel pedestals and steering cylinders for key customers in the marine industry.

With several hydro generation schemes around the Western Cape and the country’s only nuclear power station situated on Surcotec’s doorstep, the company is a preferred service provider to electric motor repair companies. “We offer HVOF as well as arc and fusion spray to repair a range of components and equipment including vibrator motor and bearing housings, aluminium casings and cartridges, rotors and shafts as well as welding for taper journal repairs,” adds Walsh.

Arc spray is also widely used in the printing and packaging industry mainly for roller and shaft repairs. Surcotec conducts on-site machining for the earthmoving and construction industry where, according to Walsh, the more affordable option of component repair is preferred over the high cost of replacement parts. “Furthermore, our quick turnaround times keep downtime to an absolute minimum for our customers,” concludes Walsh.