FU CHS SO U T HE R N A F R I C A
A foremost supplier of ultra-high quality lubricants www.fuchsoil.co.za
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Lubricants. Technology. People. Fuchs Southern Africa may be part of one of the world’s leading manufacturing specialists, but is maintaining a strong local ethos via a series of capital investments and quality accreditations Writer: Matthew Staff Project Manager: Eddie Clinton
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s the world’s largest independent lubricant manufacturer, the influence and positioning within the global market has never been a problem for a company like Fuchs, but the ability to maintain such standards while adhering to local regulations and trends in each country of operation requires both strategically-tailored processes, and internationally-relevant products. This is a balancing act honed and perfected over the years by Fuchs Southern Africa, establishing the same reputation for outstanding performance and product quality that has become synonymous with the wider Group in its native Europe.
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A subsidiary of Fuchs Petrolub SE, Fuchs Southern Africa is not only the largest independent manufacturer and supplier of specialist lubricants in the world, but achieves this through a continuous refinement of the highest quality technologies, personnel training, manufacturing techniques and materials; all of which combine to adhere to the Company’s motto of ‘Lubricants. Technology. People’. Stemming from a family-run ethos, the ability to remain flexible and entrepreneurial is even more pivotal considering the continuously evolving nature of the industry it operates within and, even more critically, the diverse range of sectors its products are geared towards. “The Company’s entire focus is in establishing ourselves as the foremost supplier of ultra-high quality and specialised lubricants to the
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automotive, mining and industrial sectors, backed up by highly trained lubrication specialists,” its website explains. “Lubricants. Technology. People. is our new global motto and as technology advances, Fuchs remains at the forefront of developing lubricants in cooperation with the world’s most innovative automotive and industrial OEM’s that provide the enhanced levels of performance that they require.”
Extensive range
In order to live up to the expectations that now befall a company of Fuchs’ stature, a dedication to excellence across all of its divisions is imperative, ensuring that the business is being seen to improve year on year, in line with the very latest market demands. This is no mean feat considering the scale of said operations, however, with
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the vast range of highly specialised lubricants being manufactured for, and distributed to, the full array of industrial and consumer sectors including mining, energy, transport, construction, consumer goods, food & drink, retail, agriculture and forestry. “This dedication to excellence is highlighted by the number of products within our extensive range that carry approvals from the world’s best known manufacturers,” the Company affirms. In fulfilling the needs of such elite clients, Fuchs Southern Africa recently attained ISO 9001: 2008 certification, providing further proof not only of the Company’s extensive capabilities, but of its much more engrained ethos of continuous improvement and operational excellence. “We are continually upgrading and expanding our state-of-the-art
COMPRESSOR OILS
CORROSION P R E V E N TAT I V E S
ENGINE OILS
FOOD GRADE
GEAR OILS
GLASS LUBRICANTS
GREASE
HYDRAULIC OILS
M E TA LW O R K I N G
MOTORCYCLE
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THEBE UNICO PTY LTD
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hebe Unico (Pty) Ltd, t/a as Thebe Unico Manufacturing Co. (PE) (Pty) Ltd, is a 100% black owned subsidiary of Thebe Investment Corporation (Pty) Ltd and a level 2 Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) contributor. A leading supplier of engine coolant and brake fluid to OEMS, global oil companies and independent distributors in the automotive industry, with more than 40 years of service and product excellence. Our services include the procurement of bulk raw materials/product, contract blending, filling, packaging and delivering to customer requirements. Strategically located at the Port of Durban, with bulk storage facilities and plant capacity thus providing scale and easy access to foreign markets.
State-of-the-art laboratory facilities
laboratory, and our blending and filling plants at our facility in Isando, Gauteng. Our ISO 9001: 2008 certification gives assurance that the quality of our products are always up to the required standards,” the Company continues. “In addition, Fuchs’ already expansive range of products is continually being expanded to cater for new lubrication requirements.” All in all, a vast number of products is manufactured - 90 percent of all supply produced internally - at the Islando facility, while the Company’s status as a global heavyweight results in additional access to more than 2,500
products from the wider Fuchs Group. The automotive sector is one such example where Fuchs thrives, and provides a key insight into the benefits that the Company can provide, not only in regards to the project offered to the domain, but in the longerterm attributes it caters for also; via service engineers, ongoing lab testing, specialised high quality products, ongoing technical services, and core training of its staff. Fuchs elaborates: “Vehicles and equipment are expensive assets. Downtime and lost production can quickly cripple even the largest company. Our products and technical backup are designed to eliminate breakdowns. Improving your bottom line: that’s our bottom line.”
State-of-the-art
Partnership with Siemens
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The grandeur of businesses to have enjoyed the Fuchs service over the years speaks for itself, with a whole host of household names relying on the Fuchs offering to maintain their own
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As an ISO/TS 16949 and ISO14001 accredited manufacturer, quality, safety and environmental care are an integral part of our business. These values guide our actions to deliver products and services that are safe, of a high quality and meet customer specifications. The Thebe Unico Quality Policy is implemented through the application of a comprehensive and well documented Quality Management System) which captures the key elements of our commitment to excellence: • Fostering a quality culture - with the objective of manufacturing products and delivering services that are trusted and preferred by our customers • Empowering our staff - encouraging participation and promotion of quality responsibilities amongst all employees • Continuously challenging ourselves to improve the quality management system - to guarantee product quality and safety, prevent quality incidents and eliminate non-conformances Thebe Unico lives its slogan of “Building Communities. Our bottom line” through the funding of community projects with a long-term socio-economic impact. T +27 31 466 1541
www.thebe-unico.co.za
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NCG CONTAINER SOLUTIONS SOUTH AFRICA
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s the leading reconditioner in South Africa, NCG Container Solutions SA offers product specific Reconditioned and New 1000l IBC Packaging across a variety of sectors. NCG believes in partnering with our customers to achieve common goals:
• Protecting your business and the environment • Boosting efficiencies for your company • Helping to reduce your packaging costs NCG’s global network operates in almost every corner of the world, making us the business partner of choice for many international and local customers. T +27 (31) 7009572 E orders@containersa.co.za
www.nationalcontainer.com Manufacturing specialised products for globally-renowned manufacturers
internationally-acclaimed standards. Mercedes Benz, Volvo, Caterpillar, GM, Scania, Komatsu, BMW, Volkswagen, Renault, Airbus, Boeing, Porsche and Case New Holland represent a minute sample and give as clear an indication of any as to the quality that Fuchs aspires to. “In order to ensure that we can meet the stringent requirements of these major companies, Fuchs Southern Africa is engaged in a continual and ongoing process to increase our blending and filling facilities at our plant in Islando,” the Company explains. “Following the recent expansion and upgrading of our filling lines and a now, state-of-the-art laboratory, we are soon to embark on a new expansion of our blending facilities.” Under the century-old Noxal brand, Fuchs Southern Africa continues to manufacture specialised greases for mining and heavy duty industrial applications, complementing a general
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In order to ensure that we can meet the stringent requirements of these major companies, Fuchs Southern Africa is engaged in a continual and ongoing process to increase our blending and filling facilities at our plant in Islando
tripling in size of the Company’s operations in recent years in order to keep up with the capacities demanded of the business. The human resource arm of the business adds further weight to internal proceedings, where the Company overcomes the challenge of finding the extent of necessary skills through a concerted in-house training programme that encourages internal promotion wholly, and is subsequently repaid with a very low turnover of staff.
Well-oiled machine
The Company’s people management strategy is compounded by its commitment to the BEE arena, and local corporate social responsibility considerations in general, across the region, epitomising its ability to be a large multinational organisation with the ability to act locally. The Company notes: “When Fuchs Southern Africa (PTY) LTD stepped into the BEE arena, our goal was to
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As the largest packaging reconditioner in Africa, NCG Container Solutions South Africa offers recollect and servicing of 1000L IBC containers and the sale of New MAUSER IBC containers.
For more information please call us on +27 (31) 7009572 Or visit our website at www.nationalcontainer.com
BULK LIQUID FUEL MANAGEMENT AND SUPPLIES
Supplier to various commercial, industrial, mining segments and applications. We supply and service a broad base of clients across South Africa and select SADAC countries. + 27 (0) 11 664 7227 / info@theenergy.co.za / www.theenergycompany.co.za
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Metalworking oils
Hydraulics oils
leverage our experience, reputation and credibility within the business environment to become a major nonracial, entrepreneurial and socially responsible player within the Southern African business. “Fuchs recognises and supports the ideals of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment and believes that it is imperative for us to be actively involved in the advancement of these ideals.” With nearly 100 years of Group experience to pull upon - Fuchs Petrolub SE having been founded in Germany back in 1931 - it should
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Food grade oils
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Fuchs recognises and supports the ideals of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment and believes that it is imperative for us to be actively involved in the advancement of these ideals
come as no surprise that Fuchs remains flexible enough to adhere to such regional trends and market fluctuations, but this isn’t to say that the Southern African arm doesn’t leverage the wider Group on a more product-related basis as well. With 55 branches across 45 countries, it is not only the largest independent lubricants manufacturer, but is also the ninth largest of all manufacturers within the oil and petroleum domain. A subsequent dedication to ongoing R&D is imperative, ensuring that the most modern and advanced global technologies are being filtered through to individual markets such as Southern Africa. “We have 4,112 employees worldwide, and as lubricants is the sole focus of our business, it is not surprising that for every 10 employees, we have one chemist employed in research and development,” the Company says. “In 2014 the group spent €32.9 million on research and development.” Key strategic business partnerships on an equally international scale further complement Fuchs’ overall ambition to remain ahead of the industry curve - constantly improving areas of machinery, equipment, logistics, raw materials and bulk distribution as a consequence - while its mix of strong organic growth and strategic acquisitions looks set to lead the Company into the next generation of manufacturing prominence with a familiarly well-oiled machine.
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RMC Minerals Durban is a specialist supplier to the lubricant, friction, foundry and agricultural industries. We offer Natural Flake Graphite, Graphite Coatings and associated Minerals. For further information contact us on Tel: +27 31 2664395 or Email: minerals@icon.co.za
RMC
www.rmcminerals.co.za
Leochem, a division of IOP, supplies base oils and produces a wide range of white mineral oil customized blends. IOP manufactures a selection of customized fatty acids, distilled tall oil, rosin and their derivatives. These products provide many beneficial uses in general lubricants, metal-working, drilling fluids and specialized applications.
A-Base
Oleotall
R&D, Manufacturing, Sales and Distribution 323 Chamberlain Road, Jacobs, KwaZulu-Natal 4026 Tel: +27 (0) 31 4618680 Fax: +27 (0) 31 461 3743 Website: www.oleo.co.za Email: info@oleo.co.za
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FUCHS SOUTHERN AFRICA Fuchs Southern Africa, 7 & 8 Diesel Road Isando, South Africa T: +27 11 565 9600 F: +27 11 392 5686 E: contact-za@fuchsoil.co.za
www.fuchsoil.co.za