The James Durrans Group, one of the world’s leading producers of refractory foundry coatings and foundry products, has expanded its exposure in South Africa with the acquisition of the remaining shares of local joint venture company Durrans RMS Pty Ltd which includes Resistant Materials Services & RMS products that were held by business partners Mike Robinson and Kevin Nesbitt.
Durrans RMS was established in 2000 when RMS (Resistant Material Services) signed a joint venture agreement with the James Durrans Group (JDG) of the United Kingdom to manufacture their mould coatings locally, shortly after exploring the idea at GIFA 1999.
JDG, with headquarters in Sheffield, England has been manufacturing products for the foundry, refractory, battery, chemical, lubrication, automotive, glass, carbon and steel industries since 1863. The RMS/JDG joint venture was JDG’s first time that they had entered into a JV agreement.
The new company, Durrans RMS (Pty) Ltd, was formed to market the mould coatings in South Africa along with other products that JDG manufactures, which includes blackings, recarburisers, sand additives and natural graphites. The relationship with JDG also resulted in the company being one of the first to start promoting the ‘flood’ method of coating moulds and cores, which is a far more productive method, in South Africa. Traditionally foundries locally were using the ‘brushing’, ‘spraying’ and ‘swabbing’ methods. JDG is well-known worldwide for its superior coatings in either spirit-based or water-based formats.
Ryno van Rooyen, Durrans RMS’ new Managing Director Stefan Pfeffer (Board member of Durrans RMS) and Director of Carbon International South Africa
In 2002 RMS invested further in their manufacturing capabilities when they began manufacturing feeding aids and in May 2003, they commissioned a vacuum forming sleeve plant. With reference to the range, there are more than two hundred formers of different shapes and sizes e.g. open sleeve, round neck down, slotted down neck formers, angle cut neck downs, insert sleeves and many more.
Additionally, RMS supplies a wide spectrum of products and services into the metallurgical and foundry industries including, hot box cores, monolithic castable and ramming refractory products, degassers and fluxes for non-ferrous metal industries, slag remover, mould seal and many more.
Along with Durrans RMS’s range of products the RMS portfolio complimented this with additions of ceramic fibre products (blankets, vacuum-formed shapes, glass textiles, ceramic fibre textiles and all other associated ceramic fibre products), insulation fire bricks, crucibles, expansion joints, bellows, compensators and other fabricated coated textile products and silicon carbide products such as advanced refractory that are used for applications in kilns, furnaces, ovens and other applications where high temperature insulation materials are required.
The JV company continued to grow its market share in the coatings market. However, warehousing capacity was limiting growth and in line with James Durrans’ strategy to standardise their manufacturing facilities around the world, including China, in 2006 the company invested over R1.5 million in a new state-of-the-art mixer that was imported from Germany.
All of the above was enabled by the purchase of a 7 500m² under roof site in Anderbolt, Boksburg. In 2005 the two companies relocated to this location and today they still operate the business and manufacturing facilities at this site.
Durrans RMS were also innovative in introducing the static and transportable returnable bulk tanks for mould coatings to the local market that have proved to be very successful. This would be followed by the commissioning of an automatic bulk tank cleaning facility.
From refractory coatings, milled coal dust and anthracite, metallurgical and petroleum cokes, friction and lubricant products through to natural and specialist synthetic graphitic products, the Durrans Group remains at the forefront of carbon technology.
A programme of expansion, acquisition and strategic partnerships continues to enhance the Group’s capabilities. Today there are nine manufacturing sites spread across the world, offering local and international manufacturing companies their unique knowledge of carbon-based and coating technology.
Cliff van Eeden – the Operations Manager, Princess Modise – the Quality Manager and JP Du Plessis – the Sales Manager
Via its wholly owned subsidiary, Carbon International Holdings (Pty) Ltd, JDG made a major commitment to the South African manufacturing environment in 2019 when it built and commissioned a vertical shaft calcination plant in Sasolburg in the Free state province. The innovative plant produces high quality ultra-low, low and medium sulphur recarburiser and specialist carbon products catering to a range of industries.
One of the most well-known and popular products produced at the Sasolburg facility is called Procarb SG which is a low sulphur carbon raiser used in the steel industry and by ductile and grey iron foundries.
Durrans Group acquires remaining shares of joint venture partner company Durrans RMS
With Robinson and Nesbitt keen to retire, the situation presented an opportunity for the Durrans Group to acquire the remaining shares and gain full ownership and control of the business, which it did do and became the 100% owner of the South African company in November 2024.
“Both the original company RMS and the joint venture company Durrans RMS have been very successful companies as manufacturers, importers and suppliers of consumables to the foundry, refractory, mining, high-temperature and general industries for many years. With the international technology transfer at their disposal, it has ensured that the South African market has been exposed to the same quality and consistency as is supplied worldwide,” said Chris Durrans, Managing Director of Sheffield, UK-headquartered James Durrans & Sons Limited Group.
“We could not miss out on this opportunity to get more involved in the South African industry while also exploring opportunities to manufacture in South Africa and export product to the rest of the world, which we have already started to do.”
“This acquisition has been seeded for some time and Mike and Kevin have been very proactive in making the transaction seamless. They appointed some of their senior staff members to accountable positions three years ago and mentored them during this period.”
“Ryno van Rooyen was made the CEO but has subsequently become the Managing Director under the new structure. The other appointments include Cliff van Eeden as the Operations Manager, JP Du Plessis as the Sales Manager and Princess Modise as the Quality Manager.”
“All of these young and vibrant executives have been with the company for 16 or more years and besides the many years of service, they have sought after experience in the industries that we deal with.”
New era
“We are certainly excited and privileged to be given this opportunity to take Durrans RMS into a new era,” enthused Ryno van Rooyen the company’s new Managing Director.
“We are all young and hungry for success not only for the company but also for the industries that we deal with. The foundry industry is an important element in the company’s portfolio of products that we manufacture and source. Foundries play a crucial role in the manufacturing scenario by producing metal castings and components used in a wide range of industries. These castings and components are often essential for the functionality and performance of these various products and systems.”
“It is therefore critical that the foundries use high-quality products and consumables to manufacture these castings and components so there are no failures while in use.”
New products
“Durrans RMS has roots going back 35 years and we are very well-known for our coatings, sleeves, refractories and high-temperature products. However, we believe that we can assist the foundries even more by sourcing raw materials and products at competitive prices.”
“We have introduced 10 new products in the last year. Before offering them to the market we had them tested locally under South African conditions at various foundries and they have all been favourably acknowledged.”
Manufacturing enhancements
“There have been large investments made recently in our manufacturing facility. These have become necessary to augment the existing demand and for future expansion.”
Investing in the rest of Africa
“Insimbi Alloys has signed an agency agreement with Durrans RMS, which enables Insimbi to distribute and sell Durrans RMS products into Africa, excluding South Africa. We are looking forward to a long and prosperous partnership.”
Committed to the industry and environment
“With many of the more experienced foundrymen nearing retirement, or already having put their feet up, it is vital that we encourage young people into the industry. We have done that within our own company and we are assisting wherever possible in the industry.”
“The foundry industry is undergoing significant changes due to technological advancements, increasing environmental regulations, and globalisation. Foundries are adopting automation, robotics and digital technologies to improve efficiency, precision, and sustainability. These changes are also impacting the skills required in the industry, with a growing demand for expertise in automation and digital technologies.”
Recycling
“One of our factory improvements is in the way we are now recycling whatever waste materials we generate. A great example of this is in the sleeve plant where all the water used for manufacturing the sleeves is recycled.”
“Another new initiative is that we are encouraging the foundries to recycle their ceramic fibre materials through us, which is a costly operational and environmental cost to the foundries because of the disposal rules and requirements. We issue a certificate that we have collected their ceramic fibre materials and then we recycle them at our factory.”
“The foundry industry in South Africa is currently in a state where it is in our best interest to try and help each other out, even if there is some healthy amount of competition. We have to continue to build our businesses for the near future and the distant future.”
“We would like to thank all our customers for their continuous support. Without them we would not be able to re-invest into the foundry industry by procuring new products and stable pricing, which benefits the whole industry.”
For further details contact Durrans RMS on TEL: 011 917 0702 or visit www.durransrms.co.za or www.rmsproducts.co.za
