A workstation in the new factory
Photo by: Creamer Media's Tasneem Bulbulia
Electromechanical engineering company Ramohlale Industries on October 27 launched its new offices and factory facility at the N1 Industrial Park in Polokwane, Limpopo.
Shortly after establishment in 2019 as a pump refurbishment and maintenance company, Ramohlale Industries recognised the need and market opportunity for electric motor rewinding services in the region, which has seen the company quickly outgrow its preceding facility in the province.
Speaking to Mining Weekly at the launch of the new facility, director Mpho Ramohlale said the company also does services and repairs of light- to medium-duty slurry or submersible pumps.
Moreover, this new facility has seen the introduction of a machine shop for fabrication.
Ramohlale said that, owing to the new facility and its increased capacity, the company has increased its testing capability from 100 kW motors to 550 kW motors, introduced a machine shop for fabrication, introduced a lathe and milling machine and introduced project management capabilities.
Ramohlale informed that the launch of the new facility was aligned to the company’s strategic growth plan, with the need to invest in tools and equipment.
Moreover, he said that over the past five years of operation, the company sometimes had to outsource some work as it did not have the capacity to handle it, therefore, it was a “compelling case” to establish the new facility.
He pointed out that clients, especially in the Limpopo religion, would now be able to enjoy a level of service that they previously would have had to travel to Johannesburg for.
Other benefits include that the premises are in the vicinity of mining and industrial precincts in Phalaborwa, Musina, Burgersfort and Lephalale, which Ramohlale averred would facilitate ease of doing business with these clusters.
The new facility cost about R8-milllion, with about 80% provided by the Small Enterprise Finance Agency, and the balance coming from Ramohlale Industries.
Ramohlale Industries broke ground on the new facility in January, and it is now 95% complete, with the last few remaining outstanding items slated to be done by December, following which the company will occupy the premises.
Ramohlale highlighted that, with its new facility, the company had set an ambitious goal of increasing revenues by at least 250%, as well as securing other skilled talent that it has identified to assist it with pursuing different business or product offerings in the market.
He noted that there had already been five new job openings owing to the new facility, and once other opportunities materialised as alluded it, the company would activate employment contracts for these as well.
On the day, Ramohlale also averred that there was potential for regional work, with delegates from Côte d'Ivoire to visit the facility soon.
“We want to be the engineering company of choice,” he acclaimed.
The facility also has loadshedding mitigation measures with a 100 kVA standby generator, and the company will also be installing solar power with a 15 kW inverter.
Other sustainability initiatives include roof water harvesting, providing about 7 500 ℓ, which Ramohlale says provides sufficient cover given that Polokwane is quite dry.