Bearings group’s expo attracts big interest

3rd October 2014 By: Zandile Mavuso - Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor: Features

Bearings distributor Bearing Man Group (BMG) held its two-day industrial productivity exhibition at its BMG Park, in Johannesburg, on September 18 and 19 and attracted more than 2 000 visitors to the event.

“The expo focused on productivity and how we integrate our extensive product range and technical services into tangible operational efficiencies,” said BMG director Dave Russell during the expo.

He added that the activated demonstrations, which took place during the expo, focused on techniques and product features specifically intended to transfer knowledge and skills on reliability-centred maintenance.

The expo was used as a platform to celebrate 40 years of BMG’s existence.

“BMG, which has grown dramatically from a single Bearing Man shop, established in Durban in 1974, now has over 120 outlets throughout Southern Africa and continues to expand on the continent,” said Russell, adding that BMG had become Africa’s leading distributor of bearings, seals, power transmission components, and electric and geared motors, as well as belting, fasteners, filtration and hydraulics.

Currently, the company boasts ten specialist divisions with advanced technical skills to support the company’s commitment to applying technical knowledge and depth of experience to increase efficiency and profitability for every customer.

The company also announced its new CEO, Byron Nichles, as outgoing CEO Charles Walters has been appointed CEO of Invicta Holdings – of which BMG is a subsidiary.

Under Walters’ leadership, BMG’s turnover and profits increased. It currently generates about R4-billion of the Invicta group’s R10.5-billion revenue a year.

Moreover, the company has started work on an investment of an estimated R330-million to increase its warehousing capacity at BMG Park and to improve supply chain processes across the group.

“This development is necessary for BMG to continue to provide high levels of delivery service in line with substantial growth of the business,” Russell pointed out.

He mentioned that growth at BMG had been organic and that, through strategic acquisitions, the company had significantly increased its operation.

The company recently acquired valves, instrumentation, filtration and lubrication products company Omsa and local tools and equipment manufacturer Man-Dirk.

Through its critical focus on entire production processes, BMG has an extensive range of high- quality branded components, engineering solutions and technical services, which optimises productivity and enhances process plant oper-ating reliability.

The company believes that this integrated approach means that lower production costs and higher production efficiencies are accessible for the South African industry.
Diverse industries can now access all critical production efficient products from BMG.

The company is also expanding its distribution and engineering facility in Droste Park, Johannesburg, which currently carries stock valued at about R400-million.