Technical solutions provider BMG is now a major player in the foundry industry after its acquisition of the iron foundry Rustenburg Engineering and Joerg Foundry last year.

“This strategic investment enhances BMG’s service offering and broadens the company’s product range to include the supply of spheroidal graphite iron and cast iron components and products to original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and end-users,” says Rustenburg Engineering GM Anton Kritzinger.

Rustenburg Engineering now forms part of the Engineering Solutions Group business segment of capital equipment group Invicta Holdings. He adds that, apart from the benefits of new customers and broader markets which are leveraged through BMG, growth of the existing operation is being achieved through product development and increased production at the foundry.

Capital investment improvements and expansion in the foundry are currently being planned.

“This acquisition is also a boost to the Fenner brand. BMG acquired Fenner Power Transmission Distribution South Africa over 20 years ago and is the exclusive distributor locally of the highly acclaimed Fenner product,” explains Kritzinger.

Additionally, Joerg Foundry has been manufacturing Fenner power transmission components under licence since 2011 and this new agreement provides exciting opportunities for all companies. Currently, BMG and Fenner are harnessing their respective strengths to develop sales opportunities throughout Southern Africa for ferrous casting supply.

He explains that the company is now able to procure Fenner components from its own foundry, offering shorter lead times on Fenner-accredited components and products.

“Fenner conveyor belting products, which include steel cord and solid woven conveyor belting, are manufactured at the Fenner Isando plant. However, whenever castings are required, we are able to source them from Rustenburg Engineering and Joerg Foundry.”

Rustenburg Engineering and Joerg Foundry operates as a medium-sized iron foundry, producing castings for OEMs and end-users, in a range of internationally compliant material specifications.

Manufacturing facilities include a no-bake resin sand foundry for jobbing and short runs and a green sand foundry for production runs.

Meanwhile, the foundry produces a variety of high-integrity castings, ranging from 5 kg, to 3 000 kg (net weight). Melting takes place in four medium frequency induction furnaces, each with a 2 t capacity. In the green sand plant, green sand moulding is done through five sets of jolt squeeze moulding machines.

The foundry uses a furane-based system in the floor moulding section, which includes two 15 t/h sand mixers. The foundry is able to cast spheroidal graphite and cast iron metals, up to 3 000 mm × 1 500 mm × 1 000 mm, with a maximum weight of 3 000 kg.

Kritzinger explains that to ensure optimum quality at the foundry, the company invested in advanced equipment, including a spectrograph, sand laboratory, a Brinell hardness testing facility and an Electro Nite Multi Quick Lab II.

However, during the casting process, test pieces are cast for metallographic examination and physical testing. Metal composition is strictly controlled and certified, if required. “All castings are identified by a unique serial or batch number that is traceable for manufacturing records.”

He explains that Rustenburg Engineering’s expertise covers a range of capital equipment and consumable components used in diverse sectors, including mining, earthmoving, chemicals, water, transport, rail, sugar, paper, agriculture, construction, mechanical power transmission and general engineering.

Typical products cast include wheel hubs, rod ends, torque plates, castle nuts, brake shoes, bearing and motor housings, rail components and flange couplings, as well as pulleys, valve bodies and diaphragms. The company also manufactures mill and barrel liners, wear plates, chill moulds, crane wheels, sheaves and bearing housings.

“BMG’s commitment to providing the best service in a highly competitive industry has seen the expansion of each division – bearings, seals, power transmission, drives and motors and materials handling, as well as fasteners and tools, hydraulics and pneumatics, filtration, lubrication and valves – to become major players in every sector of operation,” explains Kritzinger.

Additionally, the company offers 24-hour customer support for production efficiency and reliability centred maintenance through more than 130 BMG branches and a wide distribution network locally and into Africa.

“This is enhanced by advanced technical and design support across all functional disciplines,” concludes Kritzinger.