To remain competitive in the local manufacturing space, minerals processing specialist Multotec Group’s customised speed-to-market service offering on its products is a key differentiator for clients.

“When a client orders a new product from us, we can design a prototype as per client requirements. We then send it to site for testing and, once proven as being suitable for the application, we start producing the final product,” says Multotec CEO Thomas Holtz.

As an example, making a customised screen panel would normally take Multotec only a few weeks from start to finish. Holtz points out that ordering and importing the same product from an internationally-based supplier could take several months to get to the client, which underlines the company’s ability to supply its products faster than other suppliers.

The Multotec Group has invested millions of rands in the four decades since its establishment in 1978 in state-of-the-art manufacturing plant and equipment and is actively engaged in training initiatives to ensure that the skills are developed and maintained to put these investments to best use. Multotec’s Gauteng-based factories have over 53 000 m2 of manufacturing space under-roof providing the capacity to supply local and export markets.

Further, as a manufacturer to the mining industry primarily, Multotec can cater to the diverse requirements of all the minerals clients mine.

Holtz mentions that the company’s manufacturing process is designed to be flexible enough to accommodate product customisation. Some processes are highly flexible and tend to be more labour intensive. On the other hand, Multotec also has state- of-the-art equipment for the automated manufacture of more standardised products. Either way, world-class product quality ensures relevance for their global clients.

Multotec has recently decided to become more compliant in terms of Mining Charter III, specifically with regard to the minimum local content requirements. The Multotec executive proactively committed to having their processes audited to verify the local content of their products. The audit conducted by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) showed that most products manufactured by Multotec comply with the 60% local-content requirements stipulated by the charter.

Verification of a company’s local-content manufacturing status, which is crucial to attaining contracts in accordance with the charter, needs to be substantiated through a South African-accredited agency.

Holtz says Multotec is the first South African local manufacturer to attain the SABS “stamp of approval”, adding that Multotec’s contribution to the SABS process will be used as a template for the manufacturing space going forward.

Holtz mentions that attending the Local Southern African Manufacturing Expo is new ground for Multotec and is testimony to their commitment to supporting the growth and sustainability of the local mining industry. He sees the expo as a networking opportunity for peers, industry bodies and government institutions who have a common goal: “the sustainability and success of our mining sector and ensuring that we can supply world-class products at competitive prices to the mining industry.

South African manufacturers should be focusing on Africa as an export market. We are well positioned to manufacture, supply and service appropriate technologies throughout Africa”.