Mario Marais, GM: Operations of the Chryso Group
Mario Marais, GM: Operations of the Chryso Group, says an important benefit of the investment in new equipment for the a.b.e.® plants is raising the Group’s commitment to sustainability.
The new bulk emulsion tank installed at the a.b.e.® plant in Boksburg is substantially increasing the production rate of the company’s cementitious product range.
a.b.e.® has virtually completed an extensive modernisation and expansion programme, involving the installation of new high-technology equipment at both the company’s Boksburg and Isipingo factories.
a.b.e.® – part of the Chryso Southern Africa Group – was established in 1932 and is a major supplier of high performance products to the building, civil engineering, maintenance, manufacturing, builders’ merchant and hardware retail businesses.
Mario Marais, GM: Operations of the Chryso Group, says an important benefit of the investment in new equipment is intensifying the Group’s commitment to sustainability – which covers economic, social and environmental commitments – through increasing its pioneering dustless production of powdered cementitious products at Boksburg , and boosting skills upliftment within the Group.
He says the first component of the expansion programme was the recent installation of a new bulk emulsion tank at the a.b.e.® plant in Boksburg. This towering stainless steel is increasing the production rate of the liquid component for the a.b.e.® cementitious product range. The acquisition of the tank follows the installation of new bulk liquid mixers about two years ago during Phase One of the Boksburg expansion project. The new 50 cubic metres bulk tank offers several benefits:
- Safety: a.b.e.® now no longer has to decant manually but can do so through computer-controlled automatic controls which reduce manual labour;
- Improved housekeeping on site: a.b.e.® no longer has to store drums and intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) which utilise valuable space and – during periods of limited space availability – could create hazardous working conditions.
- Improved pricing from the supplier as a result of improved economies of scale.
- Improved efficiency and accuracy: the automated controls reduce time to charge the mixing vessels and the time to produce a batch of product. Batching accuracy has also improved.
- Consistency of product due to the elimination of multiple batches of raw material.
“The third phase of the expansion project will be the installation of an automated packaging unit at the Ekurhuleni facility, and a second automated valve bag filler is also planned for Boksburg,” Marais explained.
At its Isipingo production plant, a.b.e.® is currently installing a new automated dispensing line for viscous two-component products. This new production line will enhance a.b.e.®‘s epoxy and polysulphide production capability and improve speed-to-market for these key a.b.e.® products.
Marais said the new equipment has several benefits for a.b.e.® customers. “Firstly, it results in faster execution of orders to boost customer satisfaction; and, secondly, a significant reduction in production cost which will make both Boksburg and Isipingo plants more efficient and profitable.”