“Foundries are increasingly demonstrating demand for complete turnkey engineering solutions from the industry’s technology suppliers, and all indicators are that the trend will continue. The reason for this is simple: the efficiencies foundries gain from a complete turnkey solution – from single machines, equipment upgrades and small systems to revamped foundry layout and design — are significant,” explains specialist foundry consumable supplier Mineral-Loy’s Executive Director Rob Duff.
“There is no reason then why foundries should not expect the same service and solutions from their mineral and material suppliers,” continued Duff.
“Foundries are looking to increase productivity, while at the same time reduce costs. Today in the world of computers and software, especially in design software, there has been vast development. Therefore its no good having all this fancy equipment and casting process optimisation and simulation studies, if the raw materials and additives you use leave you with defects and you have to scrap the castings anyway.”
“Two and a half years ago we took the decision to appoint two young and upcoming graduates to our team. Paul Nieuwoudt, who holds a BSc Chemical Engineering Honours Degree from the University of Cape Town, was appointed Commercial Manager. Samuel Moeti, who holds a Bachelor of Technology Degree (B-Tech) in Operations Management from the University of Johannesburg (Auckland Park Campus), and also completed a National Diploma (N.Dip) in Engineering Metallurgy (Physical) from the University of Johannesburg, was appointed on the technical side.”
Brett Gait and Philip Steenkamp
“Their brief was to liaise with all customers concerning their product and technical needs. Such has been their success in the industry that we have now decided to appoint a further two graduates, one on the foundry side and the other in the CIM Chemical segment of the business. Both of them hold a BSc Chemical Engineering Degree from the University of Cape Town. As of January this year Philip Steenkamp joined the foundry division, and Brett Gait the chemical division CIM Chemicals, which was purchased in 2011.”
“In essence they are now project and process engineers within the company. In the manufacturing sense these two collide. It’s all about controlling the process, recognising key variables and outputs and suggested best practices in the factory or foundry.”
“Included in their scope will be identifying new products with a common goal of efficiencies and product quality in the casting process, so that a foundry is able to control the production process and variables in order to keep their customers, and make a profit. It is very competitive out there so if we can be part of their success and make life simpler and less demanding for them, then we will feel that we are achieving our goals.”
Mineral-Loy was established over 40 years ago to meet the needs of the users of metals, minerals and alloys in the South African market. When it was established the focus was on the welding electrode industry, but the company soon widened its scope of activities to the iron foundries and the ceramic and refractory industries. More recently, the company has expanded its product range to cover some of the raw material requirements of the aluminium foundry and steel making industries.
Products made and sold in South Africa today include all grades of ferro-chrome manufactured by Samancor Chrome including Chromite Sand, medium and high carbon ferro-manganese and silico manganese, ferro silicon, nickel briquettes and powder from Impala Platinum, Sorelmetal high purity pig iron, and rutile and zircon sand produced by Richards Bay Minerals.
Imported products include inoculants and treatment alloys from FerroPem Europe, a range of copper, nickel and aluminium master alloys from KBM Affilips Europe, and ceramic filters and slag coagulant which are imported from the Far East.
Mineral-Loy has successfully retained its Level 4 BBBEE accreditation. Strategies are in place to increase that quotient as per the officially recognised DTI scorecard. The company also received its ISO 9001:2008 certification over a decade ago and continues to renew this important accreditation every year.
CIM serves the toiletry, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, detergent, foods, paint, paper, water treatment, glass manufacture, foundry, adhesive, lubricant, cutting oil, household laundry products, bitumen emulsion, health food, emulsion floor polishes, users of ethoxylated fatty alcohols, fatty amines and fatty acids and mineral flotation industries.
For further details please contact Rob Duff at Mineral-Loy on TEL: 011 802 4050 or Sean Mackenzie at CIM on TEL 011 708 1494 or visit www.mineral-loy.co.za.
