According to specialised steel engineer and manufacturer Special Steels sales manager Eben van Eeden the relationship between itself and South African cutting, welding and grinding consumables provider First Cut, continues moving from strength to strength.

First Cut is the primary supplier of machines and consumables to Special Steels, with a strong relationship spanning some 20 years.

This loyalty manifested in the acquisition last year of five Everising machines: the H560HA, S250HB, H260HB, H460HB and P150ILA models, complementing Special Steels’ existing Everising installed base.

“The P150ILA is an ultra-high-speed billet saw with advanced inclined linear cutting action, using circular blades tipped with either tungsten carbide or cermet,” explains First Cut machine sales and technical manager Reggie Chiliza.

He adds the other four machines are fully automatic band saws, with particular specifications to suit different requirements and industry applications.

The four band saw machines supplied include the H560HA which has a capacity of 560 mm – round and hollow bar – and 610 mm × 560 mm capacity for square bar. It offers a blade speed of 18 m/min to 90 m/min and a machine weight of 4 500 kg.

The S250HB is a pivot-type machine for bundle cutting, with a capacity of 250 mm – round and hollow bar – and 300 mm × 250 mm capacity for square bar.

It offers a blade speed of 20 m/min to 100 m/min and a machine weight of 1 460 kg.

The H260HB, which is used for bundle cutting, has a capacity of 260 mm – round and hollow bar – and 300 mm × 260 mm (square bar), a blade speed of 20 m/min to 100 m/min and a machine weight of 1 750 kg

The larger H460HB, for bundle cutting, has a capacity of 460 mm – round and hollow bar – and 460 mm × 460 mm capacity for square bar.

It also has a blade speed of 20 m/min to 100 m/min and a machine weight of 3 030 kg.

“We are very pleased to have been able to grow with Special Steels in their business journey to date,” comments Chiliza.

Steeling the Show

“Special Steels provides certified engineering steel grades, cut to length at competitive prices, used for mechanical and allied engineering purposes,” says Van Eeden.

He adds that the company places a particular emphasis on low- to high-carbon and alloy steels. In addition, it has a strong focus on customer service, speedy delivery and minimising downtime – as well as value-added offerings.

“Special Steels has grown organically since its establishment in 2002, with a significant stockholding and an efficient logistics capability.”

The company sources its steel from top-quality international suppliers and recognises that it is also essential to partner with a first-class supplier of machines and consumables.

“We have had this relationship with First Cut for almost two decades: they understand our requirements completely, and that we need machines which facilitate our company ethos and culture of speed, accuracy and quality,” he says.

Chiliza adds that Special Steels has given First Cut a substantial amount of highly valued repeat business over the years, and the relationship is built on trust and mutual respect.

“We also appreciate working with company management who know exactly what they want, and who make quick and effective decisions: an element of their business which has resulted in their ongoing success,” he stresses.

Van Eeden notes: “This certainly is a relationship that works very well for both parties.”

Ven Eeden stresses that time is of the essence in the fabrication sector, and process efficiency plays an important role in clients reaching goals and achieving the desired productivity and profitability.

“In addition to supplying us with excellent machines, First Cut is also adept in its customer service,” he says.

Special Steels machines work 24/7 and the support from First Cut is outstanding, in that they are willingly share their technical knowledge and expertise, allowing Special Steels to keep downtime to a minimum, all the while ensuring that the service levels to its own customers remain consistently high.

“In return for this generous knowledge sharing, we gladly continue giving First Cut our ongoing business loyalty,” says Van Eeden.

He adds that the two companies share the common goals of offering top-quality products, maintaining high standards of productivity and excellent, uncompromising customer service levels to clients.

“We look forward to continuing to partner with Special Steels, as their trusted long-term machine and consumables supplier, going forward,” he concludes.