Local steel products supplier Stewarts and Lloyds formed Stewarts and Lloyds Projects & Contracts – a new addition to the Stewarts and Lloyds Group – to support the local civil engineering industry by supplying materials required for engineering and construction.

The coexisting footprint of Stewarts and Lloyds will enable it to enhance the supply of materials using the geographical strength of the group.

“These materials include high-density polyethylene pipes, polyvinyl chloride pipes and associated fittings, reinforced bar that is bent to specifications and all material that the company offers to enhance and support these industries,” adds Stewarts and Lloyds Projects & Contracts director Mike Mlati.

After beginning operations in August, Mlati states that the new company also intends to support new broad-based black economic-empowerment companies and “empower previously disadvantaged groups”.

To support these companies, Stewarts & Lloyds is partnering with “up-and-coming” civil engineering and construction companies.

This enables the company to “impart the knowledge and expertise” the group has at its disposal to the benefit of civil engineering and construction projects by empowering contractors and providing them with “easy-to-fix mechanisms”.

In addition to partnering with these companies, Stewarts and Lloyds also offers small credit limits to subcontractors.

Mlati emphasises the importance of the company’s technical expertise in providing solutions for integrated piping systems (steel and non-steel) for the local industry.

“It is crucial to continually seek out innovative approaches and invest in empowering staff to develop a succession plan. By doing this, your technical expertise will develop and become a culture within the business.”

He also stresses the importance of having certified inspectors involved in infrastructure projects – particularly those involving water infrastructure.

This will help to prevent lower-quality work from being conducted on water infrastructure, as it encourages vandalism and other unwarranted challenges.

“On the civil side of infrastructure, development is slow, particularly for water and sanitation infrastructure. “Owing to an uncontrolled influx of people in the large cities, this places pressure on the piping and drainage system, and can result in incidents such as uncontrolled flash floods and implementation of water restrictions.”

Further, fluctuating commodity and fuel prices, as well as the poorly performing local economy, negatively impacts on supply chain management. This can often result in insufficient stock, which, in turn, results in unfinished or delayed projects.

Mlati highlights that the company’s quick-fix method of joining pipes – particularly with Victaulic couplings – is ideal for water infrastructure work and helps with turnaround strategies.

“With over 32 branches nationally, we offer extremely competitive and strategic pricing, owing to vigorous competition with suppliers,” he concludes.