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South African conveyor equipment manufacturer Melco, which supplies modular conveyor structures for underground mining operations, has managed to expand the reach of its products into more than 75 countries worldwide, and is confident about the future outlook of its company and the South African economy in 2012.
Melco operations director Malcolm Elston says: “Melco recently invested in a high-definition plasma cutter, press brake, seal and bearing assembly work station and automated impact rubber assembly press to keep up with anticipated demand.
“We are completely self-sufficient regarding electricity supply, having installed two 630 kVA standby generators at our Ger-miston factory. As the economy continues to show signs of improvement, we have planned a further investment in plant and equipment for 2012.”
Melco previously supplied structures and idlers for underground diversified miner BHP Billiton’s Khutala coal mine, near Emalahleni, in Mpumalanga, as well as BHP’s former Delmas colliery, also in Mpumalanga and owned by Keaton Energy. It is now known as the Vanggat-fontein mine.
Founded in 1970, with the aim of supplying world-class equipment to the South African mining industry, Melco has been providing industrial operations from its Johannesburg-based manufacturing facility for more than 40 years.
The company specialises in the design, manufacture and sup- ply of conveyor idlers, rollers, motorised pulleys and supporting structures. Melco MD Gavin Hall points out that it is the company’s commitment to product and service excellence that has allowed it to expand its product reach to over 75 countries worldwide.
Melco products are designed for use in applications that range from underground and surface mining and quarrying to power generation and sugar milling. The company has a workforce of more than 400 employees and a manufacturing facility that allows it to meet customer demands efficiently.
The company has been a member of the Rulmeca group of companies since 2006. Melco has benefited from the support provided by Rulmeca involving the latest European manufacturing techniques, automated plant technology and participation in the group’s research and development initiatives, which have ultimately resulted in Melco’s increased output and improved quality.
“Almost all of Rulmeca and Melco’s activities involve the design, manufacture and sale of idlers, rollers and motorised pulleys for bulk materials handling applications. “As a group, we have chosen to focus specifically on this core business to ensure that we remain experts and leaders internationally, without being distracted by noncore activities,” states Hall.
Melco is an ISO 9001:2008- approved company that operates a specialised testing facility where products are tested under laboratory-controlled environments prior to field testing, full-scale manufacture and supply. This process ensures that the company’s products are among the most advanced in the world.
