Protechnik Laboratories

Multidisciplinary scientific laboratory Protechnik Laboratories, a subsidiary of Armscor, is focused on high-end research and development work in chemical and biological defence solutions. 

An ISO 17025 and IEC: 2017 accredited testing laboratory with a 30-year history, Protechnik Laboratories offers a wide range of analytical services to verify and detect the presence of highly toxic and prohibited chemical and biological agents, which includes the testing of masks and materials. These services are vital for the defence and commercial industry, agriculture, food manufacturing, mining and environmental sectors.

Renowned for its capability, Protechnik Laboratories is a centre of excellence with world-class facilities and scientific expertise; offering unique analytical testing services. Protechnik Laboratories is an internationally recognised multidisciplinary scientific laboratory focused on high-end research and development (R&D) work in chemical and biological (CB) solutions. 

Protechnik Laboratories is also the first laboratory to receive an Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) designation on the African Continent. 

Services Offered

Analytical testing services - Analytical samples: All occupational health samples – Silica (alpha quartz), volatile organic compounds, air pollutants, pesticides, metal analysis, sanitizer testing, water analysis (chemical, according to SANS 241) and verification of toxic industrial chemicals.

Protection testing services - Respiratory protective equipment (RPE): masks (surgical, half- and full-face); gas filters; surface characterisation of adsorbents (activated carbon, Zeolites, catalysts); material characterisation - chemical and physical properties (films, textiles and rubbers).

Detection and decontamination of hazardous and toxic industrial chemicals - Expertise in both laboratory and field detection for the identification of Chemical Warfare Agents, hazardous chemicals and toxic industrial chemicals. Expertise in the destruction of hazardous chemicals, toxic chemicals and toxic industrial chemicals utilising its in-house developed decontaminants.

Remote testing services - The Mobile Chemical and Biological Defence Laboratory, with its support container, is a first of its kind multidisciplinary testing mobile laboratory able to service customers at their point of need to reduce contamination. The service is available nationally in South Africa, and can be used statically or be deployed as a remote laboratory for the screening of chemicals and biotoxins.

Training hub - Protechnik Laboratories offers the OPCW Analytical Chemistry course to African member states, the Basic Chemistry course to military personnel, as well as training on the operation of analytical instrumentation (FTIR, GC, GC-MS, HPLC, LC-MS, ICP-MS and IC).

Hazmat Protective Systems

Hazmat Protective Systems (Hazmat), a subsidiary of Armscor, is a major manufacturer and supplier of purpose-designed quality respiratory and filtering products to the commercial and defence industries. 

Activated carbon is impregnated in Hazmat’s purpose-designed advanced carbon impregnation plant for use in a comprehensive range of commercial and military respirator filter canisters and cartridges. Hazmat is one of only a few companies capable of impregnating activated carbon in respiratory and filtering products, and is a sole manufacturer of canisters in South Africa.

Why Choose Us?

With a 30 year history of excellence, Hazmat is one of only a few companies capable of impregnating activated carbon for use in their comprehensive range of commercial and military respirator filter canisters and cartridges. As an ISO 9001:2015 certified facility, Hazmat is customer-centric, with processes in place to ensure that clients consistently receive high quality, safe products at competitive prices. 

Hazmat uses in-house testing facilities and internal technical support from Protechnik Laboratories, another Armscor subsidiary. All canister and cartridge batches are compliance tested on site against the applicable South African Bureau of Standards respiratory specifications.

Our Clients

Hazmat offers a wide range of services to various industries, including mining, pharmaceutical and health services, agriculture, pulp and paper, textiles, beverages, engineering and chemical, including petrochemical commodities, pesticide chemicals, organic/inorganic chemicals, explosives, paint adhesives, sealants and cleaning chemicals, among others.

Hazmat’s product range consists of the following categories:

• Full face mask respirators
• Double and single half mask
• Respirator filter canisters
• Respirator filter cartridges