Plasti-Tech overcomes lockdown challenges to meet supply timelines for a flagship project
PIPES
Leading importer and supplier of HDPE piping systems in southern Africa, Plasti-Tech Piping Systems, was recently contracted to supply HDPE pipes, fittings and welding equipment for a Mozambican overland piping, supply and installation project. Despite the COVID-19 lockdown challenges, the company leveraged its expertise to deliver the order on time, allowing the contractor, Binvic, to meet its deadline on site. As an international project and full-service management company, Binvic recognises the importance of communication, leadership and meeting deadlines. “Our reputation depends on the successful management of relationships between companies as well as cross-border communication with project teams on the ground,” says Dennis Keenan, MD of Binvic. With that in mind, the company contracted Plasti-Tech to deliver a crucial HDPE piping, fittings and welding equipment order for one of its flagship projects in Mozambique where the delivery timeline was stringent, despite the need to execute the contract right in the middle of the lockdown. Binvic contracted Plasti-Tech to manufacture and supply HDPE piping (450 mm & 200 mm diameter) of 18 300 metres, which included welding of stub ends for the Kenmare WCP-B (Pilivili) project, package CM020 – an overland piping, supply and installation project. PlastiTech was also tasked with supplying Hurner CNC welding equipment, four 500 mm welding machines, a Suda buttfusion machine, as well as various fittings and flanges for the project. Brad Chamont, the Managing Member at Plasti-Tech, explains that the contract was awarded in March, some two weeks just before the hard lockdown in South Africa. “We received our essential service provider approvals and certificates, which allowed us to continue working during the lockdown, under stringent safety parameters,” he says, adding that the order was completed within five weeks. Chamont concedes that the lockdown put a lot of stress on the team to get the order done. “However, with our expertise and understanding of the significance of this project, we managed to deliver the order on time, despite the challenges,” he says. Keenan agrees, saying that execution of this portion of the project was during the COVID-19 lockdown between Alert Level 5 and Level 3, which posed a lot of challenges. “This put a lot of strain on the deadlines and the ability to deliver the product on time across the border in Mozambique,” he says. Plasti-Tech’s good business practices, administrative and communication management skills contributed greatly to 8
Pipes, Pumps and Valves Africa - Sep/Oct 2020
the success and timeous execution of this portion of the project, says Keenan. “It was a pleasure working with the Plasti-Tech team, and Binvic is proud to be associated with this company. We can easily recommend them for similar projects,” he says. Chamont is equally pleased to have been part of such a flagship project. He notes that Kenmare WCP-B is one of the largest dredge moving projects in the world. “It was a proud moment for us as a company to be part of such a large project. We are grateful to Binvic for entrusting us with such a crucial responsibility,” he says. Chamont adds that despite the challenges of having to work during the lockdown, the R27-million project came just at the right time for Plasti-Tech. “With lockdown shutting many businesses in South Africa, our business was very limited during the time and a project of this size is what we needed to help us get through these tough times,” concludes Chamont. Plasti-Tech Piping Systems, +27 (0) 11 609 5511, +27 (0) 82 471 5757, brad@plasti.co.za, www.plastitech.co.za
