Local industrial equipment supplier Shumani Industrial Equipment is expanding its product offering to compete in the South African mining sector.

While the company’s exposure to the mining market is limited, its products can be used for support functions in mining, rather than for the production process.

“We’re looking at investing in improving our market share in the mining industry, as we see huge growth potential. The industry has seen commodities boom in the past few years because of the rise in commodities prices, particularly that of coal,” adds Shumani MD Victor Nemukula.

Shumani is a 51% black-owned and -managed business that is active in the industrial and construction equipment supply chain.

It represents a range of brands and products, ranging from forklifts and materials handling equipment, cleaning equipment, access equipment and compact construction equipment to compressed air solutions.

With the company hoping to increase its direct involvement in the local mining sector in the future, Nemukula highlights that Shumani is supplying equipment to a mining contractor active in the platinum-group metals industry in Rustenburg, in the North West.

The company hopes to capitalise on opportunities to supply equipment to load minerals and ore.

Commodity prices tend to be cyclical and are affected by global supply and demand.

“Moreover, the mining industry is also highly capital intensive and prone to labour disruptions. This makes long-term investment very difficult. To mitigate these challenges, Shumani can work closely with mining houses and contractors to ensure that our equipment adds value to the operation,” he adds.

Miners often prefer rental options, rather than buying capital equipment

and the company holds the largest rental fleet in South Africa of multiple industrial and construction equipment, to service short- and long-term rental contracts.

“For Shumani, growing the long-term rental market for mining is key. Short-term rental agreements, however, are also effective as they’re flexible. We provide solutions for the problems our customers want solved,” he concludes.