Process roll cover engineering group H&M Technologies celebrated 21 years of business this year, while also establishing a new black economic empowerment (BEE) company named H&M Rollers SA to bolster its South African footprint and contribute to the upliftment of the previously disadvantaged.

“The growth and development of H&M Technologies through acquisitions and new ventures, as well as through our extensive customer base, demonstrates the capabilities of our business and the confidence that our shareholders have in the sustained future of the company,” says H&M Technologies executive director Alex van Niekerk.

He says the business objectives of the H&M Technologies group have remained unchanged over the past 21 years. These objectives are to provide customers with value-adding products and services, expand and consolidate the customer base by maintaining ethical business relationships, be the preferred roll cover and related services provider, create and maintain sustainable employment environments for employees, and to provide value to shareholders.

H&M Technologies is the holding group for a network of engineering companies that provide products, expertise and services to South Africa’s covered roller dependant industry.

H&M Rollers was the first company in the group, formed in 1999 by Belgian / French industrial roller company Hannecard and German roller company Mitex after discovering the need for quality roll covers in South Africa.

Hannecard and Mitex specialise in rubber, polyurethane, composite and other specialized roll coverings. Their products and brands are well-established with major companies and Original Equipment Manufacturers in all roller dependant industries globally.

Owing to the European partners, H&M Rollers became the first and only African member of the Global Roller Technologies Group which is a collaboration between Mitex, Japanese roller organisation Katsura Group and US roller organisation RotaDyne Group.

Association to this group has enabled H&M Rollers to access the experience of more than 60 production facilities and 12 research and development facilities globally.

“Hannecard and Mitex provide our product technology and support. This, together with access to the developments of the GRTG ensures that H&M Rollers remain able to provide complete solutions for every clients roll cover requirements” van Niekerk says.

Since the inception of the company, a range of strategic acquisitions, expansions and partnerships have ensured that the companies within the H&M Technologies group have access to a network of partners that provide support services, products and expertise.

Workshop and on-site services provider H&M Tecnocoat is part of the group, aiming to improve the efficiency and production of paper, industrial and engineering products. The company offers thermal spray coatings, machining, dynamic balancing, repairing grooves and damages, grinding and alignment.

Another member of the group is speciality polyurethane manufacturer H&M Allthane, which offers superior polyurethane solutions for heavily loaded and dynamic applications in high end industries including military defence. This 25% black equity-owned business uses specially developed polyurethane casting technology to produce specific parts for armoured vehicles among others.

Meanwhile, international pulp and paper industry products manufacturer H&M Moseley specialises in making rubber blankets for the production of extensible papers such as Clupak and rubber sleeves for Flovac suction units. These blankets are exported and supplied to paper mills in various countries in Africa, Asia, South and North America and Europe.

Compound manufacturer H&M Compounders forms part of the group by using global technology to formulate custom compounds and ensure long-lasting, superior quality covers. Specialised European formulated compounds are produced exclusively for supply to H&M divisions while other high quality compounds are available to outside rubber consumers. 

Another part of the H&M Technologies group is surface protection services company H&M Linings t/a Parm Garay Africa, which was established to provide internationally proven abrasion and corrosion protection solutions to local and sub-Saharan African industries. This is possible through a shareholding and technology partnership with Beugin Garay with its main office in Spain and professional local management.

“H&M Linings provides protection solutions for most applications exposed to abrasive and corrosive conditions such as in mining, chemical and tanker transport industries, including Original Equipment Manufacturers.” van Niekerk explains.

The company has joined forces with a BEE partner who are represented in the mining fields.

Finally, mechanical and fabrication engineering services company H&M Engineering provides clients with a one-stop-shop for all roller related services, using the full suite of in-house H&M Technologies products and capabilities. These services include manufacture of new rolls, repair of damaged roll bodies and journals, balancing and more.

“We are fortunate to have dedicated shareholders with ethical management and staff. Together we can ensure the continued loyalty and support from our customers,” van Niekerk proclaims, believing that this and the collaborative network of companies will pave the way to the future stability and prosperity of the H&M Technologies group.

“The success of H&M Technologies would in turn ensure that our customers have continued access to advanced roller covering and coating technology in Africa,” van Niekerk concludes.