Raw material availability is increasingly becoming less of an issue in the supply of fasteners and installation equipment manufactured by Gauteng-based fastening technology specialist Swagefast Fastening Systems.

With production capacity greatly dependent on raw material availability, Covid-19 operational restrictions were a significant hurdle, says Swagefast MD Jay Rossouw, highlighting significant demand for the company’s products in sub-Saharan Africa.

However, collaboration with key suppliers and the easing of Covid-19 restrictions has led to raw material becoming more readily obtainable, subsequently boosting Swagefast’s product availability.

Demand for Swagefast’s fasteners and installation equipment is mostly driven by the South African mining and energy sectors, with demand drivers increasingly leaning towards infrastructure repair or replacement and the construction of renewable energy projects.

Swagefast also supplies fastening systems to the agriculture, aviation, construction, engineering, petrochemicals, rail, transportation and leisure sectors.

“By leveraging our experience and expertise in various sectors, we are able to match the best solutions to our customers’ needs,” adds Rossouw.

Since opening its doors in 1994, its customer base has grown beyond South Africa, with Swagefast nominated as a finalist in the exports into Africa and the exporter member of the year categories of the South African Capital Equipment Export Council’s Exporter of the Year Awards held in December last year.

Notably, the company walked away the winner in the small and medium-sized enterprise category.

“This recognition has provided Swagefast with the necessary tools to penetrate global markets. In our aim to become recognised as an international player by expanding into the African territory,” highlights Rossouw.

Why it All Began

Swagefast offers a solution to the challenges associated with incorrect tensioning such as vibratory loosening, owing to bolt fatigue, and the catastrophic failure of dynamically loaded connections.

“There have been limited developments in standard structural fastening systems with most directed towards locking devices that address the inherent problems experienced with standard threaded fasteners by virtue of their helical design, which creates ‘a natural path for loosening’. However, the plethora of locking devices or processes that have been developed to address this problem do not ensure that the correct fastener tension is achieved,” states Rossouw.

Because the collar is swaged into the annular locking grooves of its Swagebolt, ensuring a permanent lock, Swagefast’s fastening systems provide an economical solution that ensures the achievement of a vibration-resistant connection and a consistent high clamp force by the application of direct tension.

“No matter what the consequence of fastener failure, the cost of loss of life, redesign, repair, downtime, and labour are usually astronomical. Additionally, legal and liability costs could become significant in instances of major failure,” emphasises Rossouw.

Manufacturing of Swagefast’s fasteners and installation equipment involves various processes such as raw material sourcing, material processing, surface treatment, corrosion prevention, quality control and packaging.

Swagefast operates Gauteng-based manufacturing and warehousing facilities in Germiston and Krugersdorp, respectively.

Stickler for Standards

Swagefast’s quality policy demonstrates its commitment to marketing products that adhere to the highest standards, consistently resulting in customer satisfaction by providing reliable and effective performance, says Rossouw.

“As such, we implemented the ISO9001 quality management system in 2013 which has received the full support of senior management as well as the commitment of all personnel to ensure that specified procedures are adhered to at all times.”

Swagefast also achieved CE accreditation for its installation equipment range in February this year after starting the journey in 2019. While fraught with numerous challenges, which were overcome through continuous improvement, this accreditation enables the company to meet the stringent quality standards of the European market.