Following a successful Nampo 2023 show in Bothaville, in the Free State, in May, industrial machinery manufacturer Bearing Man Group (BMG) will exhibit at the Nampo Cape Show, in Cape Town, in September, for the first time.

“It is an ideal opportunity to connect with our current customers, as well as introducing BMG to potential farmers and the current agricultural business fraternity,” says BMG agricultural, automotive and lubrications business development manager Carlo Beukes.

BMG has been approached by several agricultural original-equipment manufacturer (agri-OEM) customers from the Western and Eastern Cape regions, who have shifted their product sourcing with high-volume requirements from international markets to BMG.

“This change enables them to avoid significant capital expenses,” he notes, highlighting that the Western Cape has always been “a strong area” for BMG, which has multiple branches supporting its customer network from the agri-OEM and reseller to the end-user.

The Nampo Cape Show, which attracted nearly 33 000 visitors last year, will be “the perfect forum to launch new BMG agricultural products to the Cape region”, says Beukes.

The BMG site, located outside at Stand 90, will display the company’s recently upgraded BTC bearing block unit and housing products, which are manufactured exclusively for BMG to stringent quality and safety specifications.

“Originally, the BTC range was developed for light to medium rotating-equipment applications, including packhouses and small conveyors in general industry and the agriculture sector. However, with important upgrades, these robust BTC bearings and components are also perfectly suited to heavy-duty applications in mining, for example crushers and overland incline conveyor systems,” he explains.

The latest BTC pillow block’s biodegradable packaging excludes any plastic material, resulting in a saving equivalent of about 300 000 plastic bags a year.

BMG will also introduce two new agriculture-specific lubricants at the show – corn head grease and a transmission flow grease – both of which form part of BMG’s BoerSlim/Smart Farming portfolio.

Further, the distinctive range of BoerSlim clothing reflects BMG’s BoerSlim/Smart Farming programme, where the team assists farmers to embrace advancements in agricultural machinery.

Through this initiative, BMG offers sustainable solutions that focus on effective food production, the correct use of suitable equipment for specific tasks and the efficient application of the latest technologies.

“A BoerSlim/Smart Farming product is always a premium product that offers huge benefits in terms of efficiencies, quality of material that ultimately improves product, and equipment operational lifetime,” Beukes says.

In addition, BMG will highlight its online shopping platform, which is gaining popularity with farmers as a convenient way of procuring engineering and agricultural products.

“This service is especially important for farmers who are located a great distance from the nearest BMG branch,” Beukes says.

The online shopping platform’s offtake was initially slow, though the company has seen a “huge uptake” from outlying areas.

“Considering that the belief is that farmers are more conservative, the young and upcoming [farming fraternity] is supporting the BMG online facility much more than before. It’s not just a trading portal but also a source of knowledge, as all our technical catalogues are available,” Beukes says, highlighting that the platform is easy and convenient, with almost 90 000 products available to buy.

Working displays at Nampo will include components for agricultural fruit packhouses, such as food-grade conveyor belts, pneumatics and variable-speed drives.

BMG will also showcase new products, including Liqui Moly oil kits and additives, designed specifically for new bakkies, such as the Hilux GD-6, Land Cruiser and Ranger brands.

The Liqui Moly products were specifically selected and designed for the local bakkie market, Beukes comments.

“This is also the only market in the world where Liqui Moly has branded a product according to the local terminology, which is ‘bakkie’. In essence, it’s the same product, just in larger containers to ensure better cost effectiveness and higher product concentration of the additive in the fuel or oil,” Beukes explains.

The oil has also been designed for and approved by the relevant manufacturers.

Also on display at the September event will be the Rat-Ban Silencer Cleaner and ceramic-based Ceratec from Liqui Moly, as well as Cummins individual filters and kits for bakkies and large agricultural implements, including John Deere, Case and New Holland.

BMG’s stand will be manned by a team of specialists throughout the show.