Dennis Phillips, National Sales Manager at PFERD-South Africa, outlines the future trends driving the local and international metal fabrication sectors and says the company’s CC-Grind Robust solution, recently developed by PFERD, will help to meet modern production needs.

“The pace of development in metal fabrication is as fast as it is in general manufacturing,” says Dennis Phillips of PFERD South Africa. Key technology trends advancing the sector include automation; modern CNC machines; reshoring; cybersecurity; collaborative robotics; 3D printing/additive manufacturing; digitisation; and Industry 4.0. In addition, fabricators are under pressure to use these technologies to deliver on sustainable development, energy and resource efficiency, workplace safety and ergonomics.”

“From a South African perspective, several of these stand out. In the light of our energy crisis, sustainability and energy efficiency take on another level of importance. Due to electricity supply constraints, the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) 2023 GDP growth forecast is now revised down to 0.3%, from 1.1%. According to SARB, the sectors most affected by load shedding are agriculture, mining and manufacturing.”

“In the metal fabrication space, PFERD’s high-performance abrasives play a vital role. We have recently launched the CC-Grind Robust, a patented modern and high-performance grinding solution, which has been developed with environmental sustainability, productivity, and ergonomics in mind,” says Phillips.

“There is no doubt that the metal fabrication industry in South Africa is being influenced by global trends. Shipping and offshore fabrication costs are becoming far less competitive, which is likely to make reshoring more attractive. Automation, robotics, and CNC machining are no longer new to us; while digitisation and the IOT are here and advancing, as is additive manufacturing.”

“PFERD is at the forefront of these developments, providing the advanced abrasives and tools needed to deliver the high-quality surface finishes needed in modern metal fabrication. Our solutions are ideal for those under pressure to deliver on rapid-production, sustainability and resource-efficiency targets while continuing to sustain high quality and low production costs,” Phillips concludes.

For further details contact PFERD South Africa on TEL: 011 230 4000 or visit www.pferd.com