Mining equipment maker Joy Global Africa will invest R70-million in a new distribution centre at its Wadeville Centre of Excellence Plant, in Germiston, east of Johannesburg.

At the sod-turning event on 26 January 2012, logistics and distribution director Annalize Engelbrecht told Engineering News Online that the facility would be a consolidation of all supply services at its sites in Steeledale, Tulisa Park and Wadeville to support its manufacturing process.

The facility will comprise a 2 000m2 office block and a 8 000m2 distribution centre. Some 150 workers would be deployed to the new centre.

Engelbrecht said about 80% of the parts would go to its factory in Wadeville.

Joy Global Africa VP Jason Savage stated the centre would contribute to the growth that would be brought on by the company's recently announced distribution and authorised service provider agreement with mechanised roof bolting technology provider Fletcher.

The agreement will allow Joy Global to market, sell and service all Fletcher products to coal mines, as well as hard rock and industrial mineral mines that use Joy Global cutting products.

‘The space vacated on our premises, as the consolidation proceeds, will allow us to grow that section of our business. All vacated space will be absorbed by increased capacity and volume that will enable us to support future growth in Southern Africa, which will be fairly substantial over the coming years,’ he said.

The earth works to start construction of the centre will kick off immediately and will continue for about six weeks, after which construction of the foundations and structure would commence.

The project is expected to reach completion by November 2012.

Reported by Engineering News