In a largely male-dominated industry, Cooper and Cooper (trading as Engineering Supplies) is the next of, hopefully, many companies to boast women-owned credentials.

The century-strong company now boasts wholly black woman-ownership, with its new CEO bringing with her two decades of experience in senior and executive level positions in the mining industry.

Cooper & Cooper, now a level 1 BBBEE contributor  was first established in 1897. The company is made up of five divisions spread across South Africa that manufacture, supply and service products in mining construction, marine and original equipment manufacturing (OEM).

With its acquisition being the first of it’s kind in the industry, this further emphasises the opportunity for growth not only for Cooper group, but for women; notes Katiso Mogaki CI analyst at Cooper Group.

MD Llewellyn Jonosky explains that the company’s unique offering can be found in the basket of products on offer.

In particular, Engineering Supplies provides products and services across a broad range of mining and industrial applications, having acquired sole agencies to distribute reputable international brands in South Africa across the African continent.

This division, specifically, focuses on servicing, repair, inspection and load testing of lifting equipment (including all makes of overhead cranes) by continuously implementing the company’s quality and safety commitment, which is supported by its international principals in order to meet the highest legal and industry standards.

Accreditations include it being an ISO9001-2015 Dekra-accredited company, alongside having accreditations from the Department of Employment and Labour, in regard to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), as well as technical representation with various government departments and the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS).

Crane Services, meanwhile, is an on site repair and breakdown division that provides excellent service to the company’s customers through its qualified team of service technicians and lifting machinery inspectors.

“No job is too big or too small,” the company enthuses.

Repairworx offers first-class service and repairs to all brands of lifting equipment, while the newly-established Liftworx division of the Cooper & Cooper group focuses on servicing the lifting tackle reseller market only.

Liftworx imports safe, reliable and quality products from only reputable sources and strives to provide service to a demanding market at competitive prices via its 2 000 m² warehouse.

Marine Equipment Supplies, meanwhile, is a leading stockist and supplier of marine, lifting and safety equipment in Southern Africa. This division is a world-class, ISO9001-2015 and Bureau Veritas Quality International-accredited manufacturer of a vast assortment of marine equipment.

From rope and slings to rigging and anchors, and everything in-between, the company manufactures and supplies ex-stock the largest range of safety equipment, from life rafts and pyrotechnics to special nets, in the southern hemisphere.

“We not only supply cranes but also retain services on our cranes, alongside servicing contracts within the mining sector,” Jonosky enthuses as he highlights the company’s OEM status and capabilities.

He notes that the combination of new innovations in modern technology, combined with substantial human and capital investments, has enabled the company to manufacture, supply and represent its flagship products –one of which being the Nitchi chain block.

Cooper & Cooper’s Engineering Supplies and Marine Equipment Supplies are the sole distributors of this brand for sub-Saharan Africa.

These chain blocks have also been awarded the SABS permit to apply the SABS stamp of approval, clear evidence that the product meets all the requirements of SANS 1594 applicable to OEM works.

This is of particular importance, notes Jonosky, considering that Cooper & Cooper is one of only three companies that “carry the SABS mark and permit number” on its products.

The company’s chain blocks are compact and lightweight and make use of the latest technology and high-quality materials, combined with ultra-modern equipment to make them compact, lightweight, and easy to use as industrial and mining type chain blocks with a ratio of 4:1 in terms of safety.

These chain blocks can also be fitted with overload protection hand wheels, to enhance the safety of users without compromising the durability of these top-quality heavy-duty chain blocks, which are supplied to fulfil with complete confidence the harsh and severe requirements that they will be exposed to.

Additionally, owing to requirements set out by the OHSA and regulations, the service and repair of these chain blocks are done in-house at Cooper & Cooper.

All chain block purchases are load tested on calibrated test rigs before leaving the company’s premises, with all of its parts and components being replaceable to ensure life span of the hoists is prolonged for many years, the company says.

As with Nitchi, the company’s Donsa lightweight and compact chain blocks are also SABS-tested.

Overall, the company describes itself as “leaders in the supply of chain, lever and electric hoists to the gold, platinum and coal mining sectors”, adding that it is also a major supplier of other industrial products and services to a broad range of commercial, industrial and utility sectors, complying with all the recognised international and South African standards and accreditations.

Through its extensive branch network and a strong management and professional sales staff, Engineering Supplies will continue to be fuelled by the enormous growth in company and infrastructural spending, both in the private and public sectors.

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