Fluid Power Components may not be the biggest name in the South African hydraulics market at this point in time, but the company is in the process of establishing itself as a leader in its field, offering quality products and services above and beyond the norm. In this effort, Fluid Power Components has made two significant acquisitions over the past three years as it has established itself and broadened its scope of influence.
Today, Fluid Power Components incorporates Numag Rail and Double A Hydraulics. Numag Rail predominantly supplied the mining industry with pneumatic and braking systems. Double A has been in operation since 1989 and held the hydraulic equipment agencies for a number of vendors; these included Double A hydraulic equipment, Brand hydraulic valves and Hydrocontrol valves and pumps, as well as compressors from TransVac.
In addition to combining the products from the above companies, Fluid Power Components has also gained the agency for Ashun Hydraulics, a Taiwanese company. Ashun manufactures a range of hydraulic coolers, pumps, solenoid valves, filtration devices and accessories, which will fit in well with Fluid Power Components' goals and meet the needs of the local market.
In persisting in its efforts to deliver continuity to its existing customer base, Fluid Power Components will also continue manufacturing power packs designed according to customer specifications.
Business as usual and more
"As it now stands, Fluid Power Components is a distributor and manufacturer of components for the hydraulics industry with a fully-equipped workshop in Modderfontein," says Sean Erasmus, MD of Fluid Power Components. "We chose this location for our new premises (moving from Booysens Reserve) to allow us to be closer and more accessible to our customers."
Unlike the individual companies that went into making up Fluid Power Components, the consolidated company can now meet the needs of most of the hydraulic market. Erasmus says Fluid Power Components can now design, manufacture and service equipment (including repairing a large range of products it does not necessarily distribute). The company also boasts a large number of technicians in the field, with more on the way, capable of remote repairs and faultfinding, and who can even strip and repair equipment that would previously have been written off.
"Repair call-outs and re-engineering systems form a large part of our service offering," says Erasmus. "These services are in demand since many in-house engineers have good skills and experience in keeping plants running, but few have the skills to focus specifically on hydraulics systems.
"This is where Fluid Power Components plays an important niche role in the market. Other companies are reluctant to send engineers out into the field and so Fluid Power Components has no lack of work and has started building a solid brand and reputation for its reliable service. We are also able to cover a wider range of products than our competitors are.
Looking into the future
While the company is already a going concern, the consolidation and resourcing of the company is setting Fluid Power Components up as a leading player in the local hydraulics market. It will also expose the local market to a range of products and services that others will struggle to match.
As the first of its many expanded services, Fluid Power Components already offers service and testing capabilities for pressure systems in its workshop.
Fluid Power Components is not set on becoming yet another company acting as an agent and offering limited services in the hydraulics market. With the agencies it has on board as well as its manufacturing, testing and on or offsite services, the company can offer a broader range of services than many of its competitors. In addition, the technicians Fluid Power Components can make available to customers is another differentiator that will establish this firm as the go-to company in the South African hydraulics market.
For more information contact Sean Erasmus, Fluid Power Components on +27 (0)11 663 4800, e-mail: [email protected]
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