Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions has moved its South Africa headquarters to a brand new, purpose-designed premises in Kempton Park near Johannesburg. This move is said to be a strategic one as it will consolidate its resources and further enhance its services to customers. 

According to the Managing Director at Sandvik South Africa Simon Andrews, the new and modern Khomanani facility includes three large workshop areas and office space on a 62,000 sq.m site. 

“Our remanufacturing facility allows us to completely rebuild machines to OEM standards, including the sub-assembly refurbishments on transmissions, axles, differential and pump motors,” says Andrews. 

The first workshop has 23 bays for machines to be refurbished, while the second is specially equipped with 100 tonne capacity flooring for the heavier tracked equipment such as underground continuous miners and surface drill rigs. 

Two of the workshops are dedicated to refurbishment and rebuilding of local equipment for the southern African region – mainly Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. This is where new standard-format equipment is configured for local use – typically including features like safety systems, lighting, tow-hitches and specific decals for customers.

“The technical synergies of the workshops add to our commitment and capacity for local production that meets global quality requirements,” said Andrews. 

The third workshop focuses on local assembly of equipment for both South Africa as well as global markets to Sandvik’s OEM standards.

Sandvik as a whole was founded in 1862 in Sweden and has continuously grown over the years into what it is today. They now specialise in four different areas of business with just under 40,000 employees, including materials technology, mining and rock excavation, and metal cutting. 

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions are a global leading supplier in equipment, tools, parts, service and technical solutions for the mining and construction industries. They provide services such as rock drilling, rock cutting, loading and hauling, tunneling and quarrying.

Sandvik anticipates an improvement of workflow and efficiency by allowing heavy transport vehicles to loop in and out with equipment without needing to manoeuvre at the new site. A combination of cranes from 5 tonne to 30 tonne capacity, as well as a specialised 50 tonne forklift, facilitate safe and quick off-loading and reloading.

“The technical synergies of the workshops add to our commitment and capacity for local production that meets global quality requirements,” said Andrews. 

In line with Sandvik’s international guidelines, the design of Khomanani prioritises energy and water efficiency. With a shared solar photovoltaic system and switching to LED light bulbs, the building is expected to save up to 48% on energy. It is also making greater use of natural light, roof insulation, and ‘low-E’ coated glass. Updated water-efficient fixtures, fittings, and systems, as well as rainwater harvesting, will improve water consumption levels by 42%. 

“As the Tsonga name Khomanani reflects – ‘hold each other together as a unit’ – our new home unites us under one roof to collaborate, adapt and learn as we strive towards higher standards,” Andrews commented. 

The above references an opinion and is for information purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a licensed professional for investment advice. The author is not an insider or shareholder of any of the companies mentioned above.