Thermoplastic equipment supplier Astore Keymak offers dragline hoses that are manufactured from compounds produced at its factory in Randfontein, Johannesburg.
“Using locally sourced raw materials gives the company significant control over the quality of the finished product,” says Astore Keymak product manager Francois van Vuuren.
He adds that, to ensure the quality of its products, the company tests all manufactured products at its fully equipped laboratory at its factory in Johannesburg.
Van Vuuren notes that the high-quality dragline hoses are durable and designed to service the agriculture and irrigation markets.
“Dragline hose can be manufactured to a custom length, subject to terms and conditions. It is available with a five-year design life for use in standard duty applications. For heavy duty applications, the hose is available with a ten-year design life.”
As a manufacturer of flexible mining hose and also fire hose, dragline fits perfectly into the company’s existing supply range, he says.
The fire reel hose is used in the firefighting industry and is locally manufactured using high-quality raw material compounded in-house.
The hose is easily identifiable by its distinct red colour and ribbed outer cover, which is 12.5 mm in diameter and used on fire extinguishers. The 20-mm-diameter hose is used on fire hose reels and mobile firefighting equipment.
Meanwhile, Van Vuuren points out that the industry faces several challenges, such as cheap and poor-quality imports, and rising input costs such as raw materials and labour. It is for this reason that Astore Keymak uses locally manufactured raw materials as much as possible.