From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report. During a factory tour to transformer manufacturer Reliable Transformers’ 3 500 square meter manufacturing facility in Benoni the company outlined several plans that would help it increase its production capacity. Chantelle Kotze has the details.

Chantelle Kotze:
From humble beginnings 32 years ago, Reliable Transformers has grown into a company with significant future plans.

Reliable Transformers CEO Andre van Zyl tells us more about the company’s plans going forward.

Reliable Transformers CEO Andre van Zyl:
“We are busy with an expansion project at the moment, we [are] going to probably triple our capacity within the next year and we are heavily focusing on the African market.

“We see that as a growth point and we are investing heavily in that.”

“The transformer industry and the client’s needs are moving towards dry-type, epoxy cast transformers and we are looking at equipping ourselves to be able to compete in those markets as well.”

Chantelle Kotze:
Dry-type and oil-filled transformers, constant voltage transformers, converter feeder transformers, precipitator transformers and reactors and chokes are some of the products designed and manufactured in-house by the company

Reliable Transformers General Manger Neil Bekker elaborates on the company’s manufacturing capability.

Reliable Transformers GM Neil Bekker:
“Reliable Transformers manufactures all the internal components for the transformers in-house.

“We manufacture all the components for the winding, as well as the assembly components internally.

“We do the winding of the cois as well as the [butt cores?], we do the manufacturing of the butt cores, and al the steel manufacturing takes place at Reliable Transformers.

“We also do painting of the vessels and the tanking of the transformers into the vessels, as well as the testing of the transformers.”

Chantelle Kotze:
Van Zyl tells us more about Reliable Transformers plant and equipment

Andre van Zyl:
“We operate eight overhead cranes in various workshops. We have four workshops in total and we provide a complete complement – all the processes needed to manufacture transformers from scratch.”

Shannon de Ryhove:
Other news making headlines this week: Government, business and labour will grapple with the hostile labour climate an upcoming summit; And, WorleyParsons consolidates its EPCM offering in its new head quarters.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa announced recently that a National Labour Relations Indaba would be convened in November to enable the social partners to begin grappling with the root causes of South Africa’s prevailing hostile labour relations environment, which was sapping confidence and weighing on growth, employment and investment prospects.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa

Establishing it as one of the largest engineering contractors in the country, engineering, procurement, construction and management
group WorleyParsons has moved into its new, purpose-built South African headquarters in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, consolidating its local project delivery capabilities under one roof.

WorleyParsons CEO Digby Glover

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy.