FEATURE
CNC machine tool
Colour sorting
machine tools, are able to produce cost effective in-house components and equipment to complement the specialist machines that are sourced from its international partners. In this way they can also be more responsive to changing market needs. The CAD designs can be fed directly to the CNC cell for programming the plasma cutters and punch machines without the need for any hard copy drawings. Here plate can be accurately cut and punched before fabrication after which they are painted by a powder coating process for a durable finish. The precision punched replacement screens, as used in the degermManufacturing Although South Africa has a remarkably ers, after punching and forming are sent open economy, Techmach have found it to an outside specialist for wear resistant beneficial to be increasingly self sufficient in hardening. Izak van der Merwe, engineering director terms of manufacturing and, through their explained, “Manufacturing and scheduling of major investments in design equipment and 15:25:33 20111130 - GFMT December.pdf 1 2011/11/30 small batches of complex 625 Series Roller Stand machines or even simple Increase your Performance and Efficiency with the Durable and components cost effective 625 Series from Roff has been revolutionised by the technology I now have available.” The significant improvement in component accuracy achievable by CNC has enabled the company to add to its core product range with new machines such as the versatile in-process Specifications: and bagging • 600x250mm Adjustable Rollers • 11kW Motor scales, called www.roff.co.za TMS, which are proving competitive Maize Milling Plants in terms of Stockfeed, Cleaning and function, qualConveying Products ity and cost Cnr. Piet de Vries Drive & 7th Avenue P.O. Box 2439 | Kroonstad | 9500 | South Africa compared Kroonstad | 9499 | South Africa Tel: +27 56 212 2697 | Fax: +27 86 618 0651 with imported GPS: S27º39’45” E27º13’35” www.roff.co.za | sales@roff.co.za makes. The separation of contaminants from seeds, groundnuts and cereals by optical means has long been a core activity of the company through their longstanding relationship with ESM of Houston, Texas, now part of the Satake Group. The new Evolution RGB machine with its high resolution full colour detection and LED focused lighting has already had a rapid take up with five installations in under four months including one for peanut grading and it is also proving suitable for new applications such as plastics separation.
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CAD view of OVK modular wheat flour mill
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10 | November - December 2011
New design and engineering facility As a result these scales are rapidly gaining market share across the industry.
Conclusions Techmach’s young and energetic management, investment in productive equipment and skilled personnel combined with the know-how of their industrial partners have demonstrated an encouraging ability to take the company forward under sometimes difficult trading conditions. They are carving out a niche as leaders in a broad range of activities in the fields of agri-engineering.
History of Techmach Technology: Techmach was established in 1979 to provide equipment and engineering services to the seed, cereal and groundnut processing industries. The business expanded in 1999 when we acquired skilled personnel and the intellectual property rights to the food and animal feed businesses of LTA which were in turn derived from its consolidated predecessors, Simon, Thomas Robinson and Macdonald- Forman over more than 50 years. Key Milestones: 1979 Private company founded by Greg Farinha and two partners. 1985
Greg Farinha takes full control
Acquisition of agency for Heid of Austria which later, on their merger, also encompassed Cimbria of Denmark
1999
Becomes agent for Satake Corporation for cereal milling equipment
Juan-Paul Farinha joins the business
2001
Deon Cronje joins the business
Company converts to (Pty) Ltd
2003
Acquisition of Andritz Sprout agency
2008
Modular maize mill launched
2010
Expansion of buildings, major investment in IT, machine tools and other manufacturing facilities.
120 employees.
2011
Modular wheat flour mill launched - appointment of Izak van der Merwe as engineering director
&feed milling technology
Grain