Steel products manufacturer Andrew Mentis reports that it attributes its success in the provision of flooring and handrailing solutions to its approach of prioritising consumer feedback and researching the best methods of incorporating consumers’ input into its products and services.

Company marketing manager Elaine van Rooyen says that Andrew Mentis believes that feedback from customers allows the company to custom-make products that provide cost- effective solutions.

Andrew Mentis recently released stainless steel handrailing and floor grating systems, following a percieved need by clients in the wastewater, mining, petrochemicals and chemi- cals industries.

“These industries are very harsh environments for handrailing and floor grating, as the high prevelance of chemicals and saltwater could lead to structural damage through corrosion. This, in turn, compromises the safety of the installation and can result in costly downtime and slips and falls.

“The introduction of stainless steel products was an absolute necessity from both an occupational health and safety as well as a productivity perspective,” she explains.
Andrew Mentis’ corrosion-resistant RS40 40 × 40 floor grating and handrailing in 304, 316 and 3CR12 stainless steel were deve- loped for the extreme conditions in these industries.

Floor Grating
Andrew Mentis’ stainless steel Rectagrid RS40 floor grating has high load-bearing capacity. It has been manufactured using a pressure locking system pioneered by the company and its round transversals are permanently locked to the bearer bars, enabling the use of the full depth of the bearer bars when calculating loads.

The stainless steel Rectagrid RS40 is corrosion resistant and nonsparking, making it ideal for wastewater treatment plants, petrochemicals and chemicals plants and mining operations. In addition, it is suitable for areas with elevated temperatures.

Handrailing
Andrew Mentis’ stainless steel handrailing sytems offer scratch- and stain-resistant properties. The tubular handrailing system consists of a range of standard angles and matching accessories, with different bends and end closures to provide versatility.

The stanchions and bends form part of a system of interlinking components that can be installed without the need for special tools, thus making installation quick and easy. Van Rooyen adds that the stanchion base plates are designed to allow moisture to drain from the stanchion itself.

“Hand and knee rails and bends are manufactured from 31.8-mm-diameter tube with a 1.5 mm wall thickness. Bends and closures have swaged ends, improving speed of installation and preventing moisture from penetrating into the joints. This is particularly important in environments where corrosion is common owing to the presence of water and chemicals,” she details.

Further, the stanchions have a 45 mm diameter and a wall thickness of 2 mm and are available in 316, 304 and 3CR12 stainless steel. The centre hole for the knee rail is drilled and then flared on both sides. The top is also flared and a half-round cap is welded into place. The base plate is 8 mm thick and welded to the tube.

Safety Measures
Van Rooyen explains that Andrew Mentis has ensured that its stainless steel products meet the highest possible safety and quality standards.

“Safety plays a big role in the selection of construction materials for handrailing. Weakened handrailings, caused by corrosion and damp, can result in accidents as well as raise maintenance costs. We have engineered and manufactured our stainless steel products to improve safety and reduce maintenance.

“Attention to detail and an intimate know-ledge of the specific requirements of each industry play a large role in Andrew Mentis’ ongoing success and have ensured that we continue to grow our footprint throughout Africa,” she concludes.