Big merger in SA heating and control market

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IBG - SA Instrumentation & Control Buyers' Guide

December 2006 News

After many months of behind the scenes negotiations, Thermacon Manufacturing and Swift Heat & Control have decided to merge into one larger company. This joint venture will see that all of Thermacon's staff, products and technical expertise be transferred over to Swift Heat & Control's premises in Aeroton, Gauteng, effective 16 October 2006.

The merger will ensure that collectively the joint company will become one of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of heating equipment and related products in southern Africa, employing in excess of 100 staff at its factory covering an area of 4000 m².

The best technologies developed in the manufacture of industrial electrical heaters, temperature sensors, control systems and many other products over the years will be combined to ensure that the highest level of quality, service and back-up is sustained and maintained during and after this process.

Thermacon Manufacturing was started in 1994 and in 1998 a factory was set up in Kya Sands. The founder of Thermacon, Richard Mayr, has worked tirelessly to grow and establish the company in becoming widely respected as a leading manufacturer and supplier of quality electrical heating and control equipment in South Africa.

Swift Heat & Control was set up in 1985 by Hamid Ismail, who had previously been with Heating Element Engineering (HEE) and was sold to Clifford Meyersfeld in 1995. In 1997 Brian Booth joined the company, and together with their team focused their attention towards nurturing and growing the business to become one of South Africa's leading manufacturers and suppliers of electrical heating and control equipment.

While both companies have been vigorous competitors, the long term vision to become the ‘new single leader’ of quality products and reliable supply has been shared by both companies for many years. Therefore, merging the two companies was paramount in achieving these long term goals for both companies. The official signing took place on 14 September 2006.

The target market sectors will remain focused on the plastics and packaging, food, refrigeration, mining, rubber, glass and general industry. However, it is envisaged that within the next six months new markets and areas will be viewed with the intention of expanding into these identified markets. The process control and instrumentation market will be a key target area, since many of the product groups fall into this category. The company will have 12 sales representatives both internal and external.

The new managing director, Brian Booth, had this to say: "Competing against Thermacon has always been a challenge as they have developed a culture of service and quality that is difficult to match. Many sales and management meetings have been held with the names Thermacon and Richard Mayr frequently being mentioned. We at Swift Heat have shared many of the same ideals as Thermacon and it is with great expectation that I look forward to the next decade working together with Richard in achieving our goals. There is nothing sweeter than getting the opportunity to work with a fierce competitor whom one has admired and to be on the same team for a change!"

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Big merger in SA heating and control market

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