The Safal Group, a major manufacturer and supplier of flat coated steel and roofing products within sub-Saharan Africa, plans to double the capacity of its Safal Steel plant based in Cato Ridge, South Africa, specialized in the production of metal coated steel coils.
"The facility we have now is essentially phase one, which will put in the capacity of 150,000 mt. The second phase will be another 150,000 mt and this will happen in a two or three year time frame," Safal Steel's COO Chris O'Neill said.
The facility's manufacturing operations include a new pickling line, cold rolling mill and metal coating line for aluminium-zinc technology and a color coating line. "Safal Steel entered the market in July of this year when it started manufacturing in very small amounts," said O'Neill. Safal Steel has been building up its order books ever since.
Mr. O'Neill is confident that Safal Steel will eventually emerge as the preferred coil supplier in South Africa. "We are never going to be the biggest supplier in the country but we definitely will be the leader in terms of product technology, service rates and customer relations," he said.