Specialised lubrication and maintenance products provider Orapi Africa is introducing pro- ducts for use in welding and cutting processes that not only increase the life span and operating efficiency of machinery and equipment but are also environment friendly and aligned with international occupational health and safety standards.

Orapi Africa MD Hilgard Steenkamp highlights that the company’s primary focus is on protecting employees and the environment from harmful emissions, chemicals and processes, adding that the company’s product deve- lopment in this regard is supported by ongoing research at its labora- tories in Europe.

The laboratories aim to respond to the unique challenges faced by different industries in different locations through their innovations, and collaborate with scien- tific teams and universities in the research and development (R&D) of high-performance products. Environmental and personnel safety is always at the forefront of Orapi’s R&D, and a battery of tests is routinely run on new pro- ducts to ensure the safety, stability and efficacy of each newly developed formula.

Orapi Africa is the sole distributor of Orapi France in South Africa, and Steenkamp notes that, because of this, the company’s products are developed in line with European occupational health and safety standards, which at present are far more stringent than those of South Africa.

“We are trying to educate the South African market about the importance of environmental and health and safety considerations by bringing this technology from Europe, and I think it is starting to pay off,” he says.

Orapi has developed a wide range of highly specialised products for use in different industries, including the welding and cutting industry. Their product offering in this sphere includes fluids for cutting various materials, such as titanium or stainless steel nozzle protectors, which prevent nozzles from burning during welding; antispatters, which protect parts and surfaces from welding spatter; crack detecting kits, which help in evaluating the success of a weld; and pro- ducts that assist in detecting gas leaks.

Orapi not only develops and supplies solutions but also provides on-site training to ensure that employees are familiar with the product and its applications. The company has a strong record, having secured contracts for the supply of specialised products with key players such as integrated energy and chemicals company Sasol and State-owned power utility Eskom, most notably at the company’s Koeberg nuclear power station, in the Western Cape.