COMPANY PROFILE
2013
genrec
Structurally sound
CompANY PROFILE
Structurally sound Editorial: Lauren Grey Production: Chris Bolderstone
Award-winning steel fabricator, Genrec Engineering has been operating within South Africa for 60 years; evolving from what was once a small family business into a large international corporation. IndustrySA speaks with Business Development Manager, Michael Mammotte to find out more about the company’s recent industry award and why it will never forget its heritage.
Established in 1953 on the outskirts of Johannesburg, General Erection started out as a family business providing breakdown and repair services to the surrounding gold mines. The company flourished over the coming years and by 1974 had grown large enough to list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, under the name of Genrec. The company’s reputable brand attracted investment from Murray and Roberts, a South African construction firm who eventually bought 100% equity and delisted Genrec from the JSE, splitting its activities into separate profit centres. Recognising its true potential, Murray and Roberts diversified the business transforming Genrec into one of
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Africa’s biggest engineering firms, and one of the only companies on the continent with an ultra-heavy fabrication facility. Business Development Manager, Michael Mammotte says that the company’s ultra-heavy capabilities are un-matched in South Africa, making it a true industry leader,“Genrec is certainly a market leader; although there are other companies of a similar size in South Africa and on the continent, we are the only company that has ultra-heavy fabrication facilities. “We have large machine shops, a vertical boring mill and a horizontal boring mill, whereas other companies don’t have these facilities.” Genrec has moved on from the original business venture started out in 1953, and now covers the full spectrum of
genrec
engineering, structural detailing, procurement, fabrication and construction services.
FLAGSHIP PROJECTS Although Genrec is still situated at its original site in Wadeville, just outside of Johannesburg, the company’s facilities have grown tremendously to accompany its increasing customer demand, which now stretches across both the continent and the globe. Genrec’s facility has more than 55 000m2 of undercover workshops and open areas equipped with the latest systems, CNC equipment and welding processes, as well as high volume blasting and painting resources spanning 19 500m2. “We upgrading our facilities about four years ago in
preparation of two of our biggest and most prestigious projects,” explains Mammotte “those projects were the Medupi Power Station and Kusile Power Stations for which we were awarded tender for all of the steel structures. “However, our services do not stop there; we were also involved in project management, site support, erection planning and the fabrication of boiler units and conveyors. We have finished our five year contract at Medupi, but are still working at Kusile.” Another of Genrec’s flagship projects, which further emphasises the company’s diverse portfolio, is the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai, as Mammotte explains, “Genrec was approached initially, and we took Murray and Roberts with us to help with the erection of the structure. We provided
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CompANY PROFILE 11,000 tonnes of steel for that project, and it was Genrec who opened up Murray and Robert’s construction portfolio in the Middle East.”
STEEL AWARDS 2013 As it has already been noted, Genrec’s involvement with the Medupi Power Station was of great significance to the company and its portfolio, and even more so when it won the 2013 Steel Awards for its use of structural steel. The main frame and boiler grid structures at Medupi Power Station was the mining and industrial category winner, as well as overall winner for the Steel Awards 2013, and Mammotte says that the company holds the achievement in high regard. “It was one of those projects which very few companies can do, and we are very proud of that. We are an ultra-heavy company in terms of structural steel; there are a lot of steel construction companies in South Africa but they are all lightto-medium, very few are heavy or ultra-heavy.” The Award, which is the second to be received by the Medupi Power Station, demonstrates South Africa’s capability
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to construct sophisticated, heavy structures with the likes of Genrec at the forefront of the industry. Louis Breckenridge, judge and representative of the Constructional Engineering Association praised Genrec for its craftsmanship and dedication, “The main frame and boiler grid structures for Medupi Power Station are truly masterpieces of heavy engineering that South Africa can be justly proud of and truly deserving of our overall winner’s award for 2013. “It is difficult to grasp how impressive they are until you get close to these gigantic objects, all the more impressive because of all the contentious publicity surrounding Medupi. “These structures demonstrate clearly the capability of South African fabricators to supply and erect very sophisticated, heavy structures as well as any country in the world. The quality of the workmanship is exceptional, particularly the welding and fit up. “The paperwork and quality control was a great challenge, every component can be tracked to the material it was made from, which materials have certified test records. Each grade 10.9 galvanized high strength bolt has its own pedigree.
genrec
Quality Coatings has all the necessary expertise, equipment, testing equipment and is fully conversant with both quality assurance and quality control requirements associated with the corrosion protection industry. We can carry out any wet or dry grit blasting and industrial coatings to any of the leading paint manufacturer’s specifications.
Major Projects Completed: » Ferro Alloys Machadodorp
» Sulphos Expansion
» SA Chrome Boshoek
» Polokwane Smelter
» Richards Bay Minerals
» Thickeners Eastern Platinum Concentrator
» Conveyor Mods (export) Portnet
» Aquarius Project Marikana
» RBM Ponds / Booster station
» Protekon - various ship loader unloader refurbishments.
» Sasol Turbo project
Richards Bay Phone and Fax: (035) 7898803/4 (082) 448 8860
1 Uranium Street Brakpan (011) - 813 3464 / 813 4046/7
web: www.qualitycoatings.co.za email: info@qualitycoatings.co.za
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CompANY PROFILE “Genrec had to satisfy four inspection authorities. They are also very proud of the safety record achieved while fabricating this steelwork.”
TRAINING & SKILLS DEVELOPMENT To continue achieving the phenomenal success that it has experienced over the years, Genrec believes in the importance of ongoing training, and has established a training centre in order to generate a skilled workforce. “Our people are the underlying force, driving the delivery of our client’s vision with embedded values to deliver beyond our customers’ expectations. By investing in our people, we invest in our company, building a competent, competitive, knowledgeable and experienced team,” the company expresses. The training centre is not only dedicated to maintaining the ongoing performance of its staff, but it also focusses on training apprentices and young people with little or no skills within the industry, as Mammotte explains. “When there was a slump in the industry, we lost a lot of skilled people in the industry so in order for us to maintain a skilled workforce, we have our own training centre where we have apprentices and youngsters learning the trade. “The training centre teaches the students the basic skills of the industry, but there are always opportunities to develop and move up through the ranks over time, but that’s down to the individual person and how dedicated they are.” The training centre produces a constant flow of people that are integrated into the business when they are needed, which Mammotte says is vital for the company going forward, “The training centre is a key aspect of the company and our industry as a whole. Without the appropriate training, the industry would be dead.” Genrec’s training centre has a variety of different programmes, such as a Murray & Roberts Leadership
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genrec Development Programme, Graduate Development Programme and Skills Training, amongst others.
FUTURE PLANS From humble beginnings, Genrec has grown into a multiaward winning company with a portfolio spanning from South Africa to the Middle East and many places in between. The company has also diversified its services to provide for a host of different industries such as power generation, mining and petrochemicals. Although Genrec has embraced the opportunity to take its services worldwide and further increase its global footprint, going forward Mommette says that the businesses sole focus is Africa. “At the moment we are only concentrating on Africa, but we do have enquires for work outside of the continent. We welcome all enquiries and we will tackle anything with regards to steel, but at the moment we are keen to focus on our business operations on the continent.” Aside from its international business ventures, Genrec also imports some of its steel from different locations across the globe, further strengthening its international ties. However, Mommette says that the company will always support its
South African heritage and source materials locally when it can. “We have begun sourcing steel internationally, we used to only use South African steel but due to the fire that broke out at Arcelor Mittal, which slowed supply, we have had to start looking elsewhere. “We support South Africa and South African steel as best we can, but what we can’t source here, we will get over seas.” Genrec’s South African heritage is testament to the company’s success, and whilst it strives to continually achieve success across the globe, it will remain focussed on the continent and leading the industry by example.
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“Genrec is certainly a market leader; although there are other companies of a similar size in South Africa and on the continent, we are the only company that has ultra-heavy fabrication facilities”
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+27 11 876 2300 www.genreceng.co.za
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