Welding and cutting
John Thompson re-establishes Australian presence
J ohn Thompson Industrial Watertube Division, part of the ACTOM Group in South Africa, has announced a new partnership with Australian firm EDMS to reintroduce its world-class industrial solutions to the Australian market. The collaboration restores access to specialist boiler support for the sugar industry and opens new opportunities in the energy and industrial sectors. Rebuilding a historic presence John Thompson has a long history of en- gineering excellence dating back to 1824. Although its Australian division closed in the early 2000s, many of its boilers remain in operation across the country. With lim- ited specialist support available in recent years, this partnership restores access to original parts, expert maintenance and technical upgrades. “John Thompson is proud to be back in Australia,” says Quintus Engelbrecht, Business Development Manager of the Industrial Watertube Boiler Business Unit. “By working with EDMS, we are providing long-overdue access to the level of service and technical expertise our equipment requires.” EDMS is an Australian company provid- ing a diverse, complementary range of en- gineering, fabrication and site construction services to the sugar, agriculture, defence, marine, resource, renewable energy, tour-
ism and industrial sectors. It has built a solid reputation in the Australian sugar industry through its maintenance work and strong technical capabilities. By align- ing with John Thompson, EDMS is now equipped to deliver a complete offering, from site support to project execution. Service where it matters most The collaboration has already delivered results. In a recent Queensland project in Australia, John Thompson engineers conducted an on-site investigation and manufactured replacement furnace panels. EDMS will handle the final inspection and installation locally to ensure seamless service for the client. “There are very few boiler specialists left in Australia,” explains Engelbrecht. “With this partnership, we combine our engineering knowledge and equipment supply with EDMS’s strong local footprint. It’s a practical and scalable model for long- term client support.” Through this arrangement, Australian clients will benefit from enhanced access to engineering insights, specialist services, and spares, including remote monitoring and virtual diagnostics, thereby improving plant reliability and efficiency. Supporting more than sugar While the sugar sector is the immediate focus, John Thompson sees strong poten- tial for its boiler systems in other industrial
An ACTOM John Thompson K4 Boiler bi-drum industrial boilers manufactured by John Thompson Industrial Watertube Division. applications, including power generation. “Many Australian industries still rely on thermal energy, and their infrastructure needs expert support,” says Engelbrecht. “We are ready to meet that need with proven solutions, through a trusted local partner.” This partnership signifies more than a return; it is a strategic step forward, com- bining local expertise with international engineering excellence to support Austra- lia’s industrial future. “We’re excited to align with a partner that opens doors to smarter, more efficient energy solutions for the Australian industry. With John Thompson’s proven technology and our local delivery footprint, clients can expect real performance improvements,” concludes Michael Hagen, EDMS Australia Managing Director. https://www.johnthompson.co.za
GammaTech Elios 3 drone G ammaTech recently showcased the power of the Elios 3 con- fined space drone at one of Zimbabwe’s leading gold mines, delivering a breakthrough demonstration that left the customer amazed. The test focused on inspecting confined stopes deep within the mine, a challenging environment where traditional methods fall short. The goal was to generate a full 3D point cloud using the Elios 3 equipped with its advanced survey payload. In a quick seven-minute demo flight, the Elios 3 achieved more than 90% coverage of the target area. By comparison, the mine’s current scanning technology only manages around 40% coverage on average. Traditional scanning methods also require multiple points of entry, making the process time-consuming and incom- plete, even after multiple scans. Beyond mapping, the Elios 3 enabled complete visual inspec- tion by capturing high-quality video and images throughout the flight. This allows mine teams to conduct detailed reporting with both 3D data and visual evidence within a single workflow. The drone can also detect potential blockages and hazards, giving survey and planning teams another layer of insight that hand scanners cannot provide. The Elios 3 effortlessly navigated through tight, inaccessible areas, capturing a comprehensive 3D dataset in a fraction of the time. This not only improves efficiency but also eliminates the
risks associated with sending personnel into dangerous confined spaces. For the mine, this demonstration showed a clear leap forward in safety, accuracy & productivity. The Elios 3 provides access & insight that existing tools cannot match, setting a new standard for underground inspections in mining. GammaTech is proud to bring world-class inspection technol- ogy to another African mine, helping operations push beyond traditional limits while keeping safety & precision at the core. Elios 3 can revolutionise inspections for operations still relying on traditional scanning methods. https://gemmatech.co.uk The GammaTech crew is preparing the Elios 3 before launch. The Elios 3 Drone enables inspections in confined spaces to be done safely without putting underground personnel at risk.
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March-April 2026
AFRICAN FUSION
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