Trax Engineering was incorporated in 2012 and operated on a limited basis, until recently. English born owner Tom Webb has been living in South Africa for 12 years, having previously worked in various positions in industry in Abu Dhabi and the UK.
“Most of my career has been doing something in the engineering field and that has not been sitting behind a desk. From maintenance to manufacturing I have got some experience. Good or bad it has generally given me a head start and investing in my first fibre laser was not as daunting as I thought it would be,” explained Webb.
“In business, success is often the product of a company’s vision – the aspirations for the future and the plans for creating opportunities and managing growth. Differentiation from the competition is an important factor in uncovering and realising those opportunities.”
A fibre laser was Trax Engineering’s first major equipment investment. They purchased a JFY 3kW with a 3m by 1.5m bed from Puma Machine Tools that was installed in August 2023
“This typically means doing things better, more efficiently, and more economically than anyone else. Continually challenging the way things have been done in the past and viewing them from a new perspective ultimately leads to innovation and a strong competitive edge.”
“Trax Engineering was a two-man operation but when the opportunity arose we recognised it and got busy implementing the requirements.”
“A friend is very involved in the lithium-ion battery and solar industry. With the current (excuse the choice of word) energy situation in South Africa there continues to be a scramble to find an energy storage system that suites residential and business situations or on a bigger scale a manufacturing environment that keeps machines going.”
“As we all know lithium-ion batteries and clean energy are not just about EVs. There are many other applications and more and more are arising.”
“A great example of this is lithium-ion batteries used in forklifts. Lithium-ion forklift batteries are more energy-efficient and charge faster than lead-acid batteries, saving you time and money. Your lithium-ion battery will typically last two to four times longer than a lead-acid battery. This helps you keep up with those long workdays.”
“This friend acquired a contract to supply the lithium-ion batteries and counterweights for OEM forklift manufacturers. He manufactures the lithium-ion batteries but he had nobody manufacturing the counterweights required after removing the lead acid battery and replacing it with a much lighter lithium battery so he turned to me.”
The JFY fibre laser is powered by a Trumpf TruFiber Cut 3000 source
The company manufactures storage tanks for counterweights used on OEM forklifts
“Forklifts are essential in the manufacturing, construction and warehousing industries as they help lift, move and transport heavy materials and equipment with ease. A forklift’s performance and safety depend on its various parts and components, one of which is the counterweight which is not only the heavy mass attached to the back of a forklift but also weight built into the forklift by means of heavier than required frame and very heavy batteries which then counter balances the weight of the load being lifted and so prevents the forklift from tipping over. Counterweights are typically made of steel, iron, or concrete and the battery alone can weigh anywhere between 240kg to 2500kg.”
“The advanced knowledge and technical details behind counterweights in the industry are fascinating and essential for understanding their role in performance. From balancing efficiency to safety features and energy savings.”
“You could say the same about fibre lasers – an essential tool used in the cutting of sheet used for the tank to house the counterweights. A fibre laser was our first major equipment investment and our JFY 3kW with a 3m by 1.5m bed was installed by the guys from Puma Machine Tools in August 2023. We had only been in the 900m² facility in Killarney Gardens, Cape Town a few months.”
“We also purchased a press brake, guillotine and a MIG welding machine. The manufacture of the tanks does not require high-end technical requirements but as they are being fitted to premium OEM forklifts, they need to be more than presentable.”
Counterweights are typically made of steel, iron, or concrete and the battery alone can weigh anywhere between 240kg to 2 500kg
The storage tanks do require welding
“Once we knew how to operate the JFY laser we started production. Initially we were fabricating about 30 tanks a month but as our processes have improved, we are now up to between 80 and 100 tanks a month and we want to increase that number.”
“The fibre laser is allowing companies to do a lot of things that they couldn’t do before if they had a CO2 laser. We intend to exploit that opportunity and besides mild steel we have now started to cut aluminium for a client.”
“Even though we are only using 25% capacity of the machine we are still expecting the machine to pay itself off in three-and-a-half years. So, if we can start to fill up that capacity, we could look at other services.”
“We have recently started to do some work for a manufacturer of cattle enclosures so we are diversifying.”
“Fabricators are constantly searching for ways to manufacture things faster, more economically, and with even higher quality. Properly integrating a new technology requires a disciplined analysis to assess its effect on the existing processes and the business as a whole. Developing and executing a strategy for implementing new technologies propels a metal fabricator forward and separates it from the competition. Such a strategy provides hidden benefits and opportunities.”
For further details contact Trax Engineering on 073 129 9687.
