2006

Leading lubrication firm Operational Marketing (Pty) Ltd has been awarded a R4,5 million supply contract for a complete lubrication systems for two gearless mills in Zambia. The company believes the contract is a coup, as it is a first in Southern Africa.

The company is to supply lubrication systems for a 38” x 20” gearless SAG mill and a 26” x 40,5” gearless ball mill for Equinox’s Lumwana project in Zambia. The scope also includes systems for a 60” x 89” gyratory crusher and a 3,4m x 6,1m regrind ball mill.

These are highly advanced systems being installed in equally high-tech mills and the need for reliability is essential in order to keep operational mosts to a minimum. Individual components are imported, but the system design and manufacture is done at the company’s offices in Fontainebleau, Johannesburg.

Zambia is becoming a challenging market for the company, and it is also hoping to increase its market share in Namibia, Botswana, Ghana and Mali.

Operational Marketing (Pty) Ltd also supplies lubrication and filtration systems to the DRC, Mauretania, Egypt, Canada, Labrador, Jamaica, Turkey  and the Ukraine. Business in Zambia is good and growing and the company recently received lubrication enquiries from Konkola.

The roads and logistics in Zambia are major challenges, as it is difficult to send a large consignment. One has to cross four borders, which adds to border control paperwork and incurs additional time delays. The company will be going on site in August to help with erection and commissioning.

Operational Marketing (Pty) Ltd has appointed an agent in Zambia for the after-sales marketing, which will act as the company’s ears and eyes on the ground.

“The lubrication system that we are supplying is unique and it is being supplied to the African market for the first time. The systems are more expensive than standard lubrication systems owing to their complexity.”

The contract has opened doors for the company, as it is now also supplying similar equipment to Anglo Platinum. “It has also created opportunities for other products that we sell, as the company is supplying valves in Zambia to the same companies to which Operational Marketing (Pty) Ltd is supplying circulation systems.” There is willingness in Zambia to go the high-tech route, even though there are few local backup systems currently in place.

The company has a few projects in the Middle East, as well as in West Africa and the SADC countries in the pipeline. “If Zambia’s copper industry continues to grow and new capital projects are approved, the company will be involved.”

The company thrives on building long-term relationships with clients. There is always competition in South Africa, but when it comes to bigger equipment, we have the infrastructure, knowledge and capabilities as we offer a market competitive price. In all the company’s products there is no compromise on engineering and quality, as they have to live the life of a mine and beyond.

The business community of Zambia is tired of companies that dump their equipment and leave the market. Companies like Operational Marketing (Pty) Ltd are making service orientated inroads into Zambia as they have backup systems to sustain the projects, and after-market care is extremely important to them. Since the capabilities in Zambia are limited, it is vital to have support from the original supplier.