Kwatani, previously known as Joest South Africa, is one of the largest local original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of custom-engineered vibratory equipment solutions for the African continent. On average, one machine a day leaves the company’s 17 000 m2 heavy fabrication facility outside Johannesburg.

Joest South Africa started operations in 1976 and was acquired by Gunter Vogel in 1989. At the time, it was a small company importing motors from Germany and assembling small vibrating equipment. Under Vogel’s guidance, it successfully integrated local technology into the original German designs, boosting efficiencies in the harsh African mining environment.

Today, Kwatani is a fully independent privately owned South African OEM with Level 4 broad-based black-economic-empowerment accreditation and 30% black ownership.

First in its class to exceed the Mining Charter requirement, Kwatani is recognised for its best practice manufacturing capability, which includes an extensive in-house engineering and testing facility. Known for its ability to custom-engineer fit-for-purpose vibrating equipment to meet specific application requirements, the company has an extensive installed machine fleet operating in some of the most extreme conditions and environments on the continent.

Kwatani’s facilities are fully equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. Four large spray and paint booths extending over 300 m2 use the latest shot blasting and painting technology. Four massive manufacturing and assembly bays are equipped with a combined crane capacity of 160 t.

Skilled and experienced in-house design and technology teams accurately interpret customer requirements, translating this information into solutions engineered for optimum throughput tonnages without compromising on reliability or quality. Individual machines can weigh as much as 50 t and offer a material throughput capacity of up 7 000 t/h of screened material. Currently, the largest screens produced are up to 4.3 m wide or 10 m long and operate in all commodity screening applications.

The Kwatani facility is also home to an exciter gearbox and electrical motor assembly and refurbishment operation. The company’s extensive warehouse facility ensures that lead times are minimised and its OEM parts stockholding allows ready access to parts.