Leading supplier of nickel alloys, stainless steel and titanium Multi Alloys has strategically extended its portfolio and entered the welding consumables market with a new range of products.

Through a partnership secured with electrical product supplier Lincoln Electric late last year, the Midrand-based company is now focused on stocking a range of consumables compatible with its core products, namely the duplex, super duplex and 904L grades of stainless steel, as well as selected items in the company’s nickel alloy range.

Multi Alloys owner Ken Perel emphasises that the decision to extend the range of core products is based on its clients’ need for welding consumables that support the company’s products. “On occasions, our customers have expressed frustration at not being able to locate the [necessary] welding consumable . . . once they had purchased a duplex or super duplex plate, pipe or bar.”

He adds that this decision represents a logical develop- ment at the right time, as the company’s new, expanded warehouse facilities can easily house the new stock.

Perel explains that this development also represents an incremental investment. “Multi Alloys will build on the initial range, which com- prises coated electrodes and TIG wire.” He states that, while the company is focussing on a very narrow range of grades – which do not include the consumables or the commodity grades of stainless steel – it believes that, as long as welding consumables supplier Metrode’s range of consumables is available off the shelf, it will be able to assist customers in their efforts to fabricate locally.

He says that the main criteria the company considered when selecting the right supply chain partner was the ability to offer a wide range of items to support the Multi Alloy products, as well as a high-quality offering that is competitive in this sector.

“The manufacturing divisions of The Lincoln Electric Company and Metrode are International Organisation for Standardisation-accredited. Further, the company has an impressive training facility in Midrand and offers extensive technical expertise in welding.”

Moreover, The Lincoln Electric Company technical specialists are available as backup support for Multi Alloys. “Adding value has always been the Multi Alloys mantra and we believe that this partnership will offer a significant benefit to both Multi Alloys and to our valued customers,” comments Perel.

New Premises
Multi Alloys and sister company stainless steel provider Energy Engineered Products (EEP) are enjoying the benefits of their move to newer and larger premises while still remaining in the same Midrand-based Kyalami Business Park (KBP), where the two companies have been successfully trading for about 20 years.

EPP first moved to the KBP in the mid-90s and was joined by Multi Alloys in 1997. Following the success of both businesses, the management teams decided to rent a second off-site warehouse, which they ultimately outgrew. This resulted in the move to 2 Brands Hatch Close, which is also located inside the KBP, and the companies have occupied the new 2 500 m2 premises since September last year.

Perel comments that the additional space presents growth opportunities and facilitates future expansion of EPP’s and Multi Alloys’ respective product ranges. Further, the moves have improved the companies’ stockholding and management, as well as their operational performance, enhancing their customer service.

The move has also provided staff with a safer working environment, and the larger premises also allows the companies to improve warehouse layout in order to facilitate systematic and productive operations and compliance with internal operating procedures.

Both Multi Alloys and EPP were first ISO 9001: 2008-accredited in December 2009 and achieved reaccreditation last year. Perel attributes the com- pany’s 19 years’ experience in supplying high-quality products to a niche market, coupled with the doubling of warehouse space, as key factors in the company’s success.