The acquisition of the South African agency for German tooling manufacturer Orbitalum Tools will allow Dowson & Dobson (D&D) Industrial to provide welding solutions for industries that require tube and pipe-welding preparation.

D&D Industrial is a division of Actum Industrial. Both Actum Industrial and Actum Electronics make up Actum Group, a South Africa-based industrial products, instrumentation, pneumatics and professional tooling company.

According to product manager Werner Smit, D&D Industrial was awarded the South African agency for Orbitalum Tools to especially focus on orbital tube and pipe preparation, as well as orbital welding technology for industrial piping systems, prefabrication and maintenance.

D&D Industrial clinched the agency from Dubai-based company Orbital Cutting & Welding in January, becoming the only distributor of Orbitalum products for South Africa in the thin-wall market segment that also covers industries, which include the food and beverage sector and general pipe fabricators.

“The acquisition has enabled us to expand to higher-growth sectors such as the pharmaceuticals industry,” says Smit.

Actum Group director Kevin Klaff says the Orbimat range of welding equipment from Orbitalum Tools is an ideal addition to the local market.

“The range represents the latest technology, while also being user friendly, cost effective and minimising maintenance intervals, which are critical in an environment such as Africa.”
The acquisition will see products such as the Orbimat 165 CA welding power supply being introduced to the South African market.

The power supply, which houses a multifunctional rotary actuator, allows for automatic programming that sets parameters according to tube diameter, wall thickness, material and welding gas. Further, the machine’s systematic filing system allows for the storage of up to 5 000 different welding procedures.

Operating from an input voltage of between 85 V ac and 260 V ac – without any adaptation or switching required – the system can be used on all globally known single-phase voltage supplies, even when the main supply determines greater input voltage deviations.

“An optional backup pressure-control module allows for the internal purge pressure to be optimised during the weld cycle, thus compensating for the sinking of the welding pool. The Pro-Service System allows for a simple functional test with no need to open the unit,” Smit notes.

D&D Industrial will explore the possibility of expanding the Orbimat range into Africa.
“We have access to Africa, although our initial focus is on the South African market to establish the products in the fields of orbital welding technology, as well as orbital tube and pipe preparation for industrial piping systems, prefabrication and maintenance.”

Klaff explains that Actum Group has gradually evolved from being a supplier to offering integrated solutions and support.

“The Orbimat range has been very well received to date and customers have expressed an interest in demonstrations, which are key to selling this product. Our demonstration equipment arrived recently and will be used to showcase the quality and user friendliness of the Orbimat range.

“Our focus is quality, which we believe can never be compromised. Quality is a given across our entire product range,” concludes Klaff.