CONTRACTORS’ CORNER
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Introducing the Apollo Shadow Range: proudly made in South Africa by Lesco Manufacturing L esco Manufacturing is proud to introduce the Apollo Shadow. It is a bold new addition to the Apollo wiring device family, designed for the
modern South African interior. With its straight-edged frame, matte-textured finish, and signature curved side profile, the Apollo Shadow casts a subtle shadow on the wall, blending seamlessly into contemporary spaces while making a quiet style statement. Available in white and black, the range includes switches, isolators, sockets, dimmers, blanks, and USB combination units, covering all everyday electrical needs in one cohesive collection.
www.lescosk.com
The ECA response to the R3 reduction in the fuel levy T he R3 reduction in the fuel levy is too small to offer relief to the struggling consumer. Businesses are fighting to stay afloat, and we
their countries at lower prices than we do. We are victims of taxes and levies, and they are squeezing us endlessly. The government already earns enough from businesses through income tax. The heavy burden of fuel taxes and levies is unmanageable. Now, we must also suffer from price fluctuations caused by distant conflicts that have nothing to do with us. It is unfair for the citizens of this country that we merely create costs and pass them on to consumers. The ECA(SA) urges the government to cut fuel levies by a meaningful amount. Paying nearly R30 per litre of diesel is utterly unjust.
rely on customers to afford our services. When we succeed, we generate income and pay taxes. These taxes are sufficient and must be used efficiently and properly, rather than funding corruption or causing negative headlines. We are informed that nearly 50% of the fuel price comprises levies and taxes. These should be reduced by 50%, as governments elsewhere in the world have done. Namibia has already cut its fuel levies by 50%. Why don’t we follow suit? It is unacceptable that people from Botswana and Eswatini buy fuel in South Africa and then sell it in
SkyJacks expands portfolio with GEDA 300 Z Boiler Hoist M aintenance in high-value industrial environments, such as silos and boilers,
With a lifting capacity of 300 kg and a height reach of 100 metres, it suits various maintenance tasks. Its durable construction ensures longevity in tough environments, while its compact size suits tight spaces. Safety features include overload protection, electromagnetic brakes, limit switches, emergency stops, and a secure load platform, ensuring personnel and material safety and compliance with safety standards. These safety measures help maintain a safe working environment without compromising efficiency, promoting sustainability and long-term workforce wellbeing. Industries such as power generation, mining, petrochemical, and industrial construction benefit from the GEDA 300 Z, especially where confined-space maintenance is common, helping reduce downtime and improve performance. SkyJacks offers ongoing support for servicing, safety inspections, spare parts, technical assistance, and operator training to ensure reliable operation and compliance with safety standards. Jacobs emphasises that the GEDA 300 Z provides a smarter, safer, and more efficient maintenance approach in challenging environments, creating value through reduced downtime and improved safety. As industries prioritise uptime, safety, and efficiency, the GEDA 300 Z is becoming essential for transforming maintenance in confined industrial spaces.
www.eca.co.za
often faces space constraints, with limited access sometimes available only through a 45 cm manhole, hindering the effectiveness of traditional lifting equipment. This leads to reliance on manual handling, which is time-consuming and physically demanding. SkyJacks introduced the GEDA 300 Z Boiler Hoist, designed for tight spaces. Industries such as energy, mining, and manufacturing perform maintenance in vertical structures, where safely moving materials between levels is critical. Without effective lifting systems, operations slow down, increasing downtime and safety risks. Manual handling reduces productivity and increases fatigue, making it harder to meet deadlines. The GEDA 300 Z features a modular, lightweight design that fits through narrow openings, including 45 cm manholes. It can be assembled by two people in about 40 minutes in confined spaces, creating a functional hoist that traditional systems can’t operate in. Darryn Jacobs, SkyJacks MD, notes that many maintenance environments weren’t designed for modern equipment, but the GEDA 300 Z changes that by enabling safe, efficient lifting in hard-to- reach spaces. The hoist improves workflow and efficiency by enabling organised material movement between levels, reducing waiting times and enhancing team coordination, thereby speeding up maintenance.
Rollers excel where profits balance on a knife-edge P olymer component specialist manufacturer igus has developed a range of lubrication- free, long-life knife-edge rollers designed to improve product transfer between conveyor belts in high-speed production environments. The company’s knife-edge rollers are specialised guide rollers used at the transfer between
conveyor belts. They allow conveyor belts to wrap around a very small radius so that products can transfer smoothly from one belt to another with the smallest possible gap. This prevents snags and stops smaller items from dropping between conveyors. Knife-edge rollers are commonly used in automated production lines, packaging equipment, and food processing systems where seamless, efficient product transfer is required for typical applications such as baked goods, packaged foods, small goods, and sensitive electronics, among others. According to igus product specialist Juan- Eric Davidtz, igus uses its world-renowned tribologically optimised polymer materials for the rollers, which deliver low-friction, lubrication- free operation while enabling extremely tight belt deflection. “Machine builders and conveyor system designers rely on our knife-edge rollers to maintain consistent product flow while keeping conveyor layouts compact. The smaller the belt deflection radius, the smoother the transfer between conveyors, thereby improving production efficiency and reducing product losses. “This is what sets igus knife-edge rollers apart, as our iglidur materials are engineered specifically for industrial motion applications and contain embedded solid lubricants. As a result, the rollers operate dry with no need for grease or oil lubrication,” he says. Juan-Eric adds that the lubrication-free design prevents contamination, reduces maintenance
requirements, and significantly extends the lifespan of the rollers. This means the rollers can operate reliably for extended periods and can be used in all environments, including hygienically sensitive environments such as pharmaceutical, engineering, food and beverage processing plants. The igus knife-edge rollers are also tougher than steel alternatives. They offer higher wear resistance and lower friction, which allows them to operate smoothly in continuous-duty conveyor systems. Their polymer construction also provides good chemical resistance and corrosion protection in chemical processes, while the lightweight design can reduce drive loads compared with conventional metal rollers. We are continuously communicating with designers keen to exploit these advantages across a wide range of applications. With a broad selection of standard sizes and customised configurations, it enables OEMs and machine builders to precisely match roller geometry and dimensions to their conveyor systems. This is important in high-speed production environments where even small interruptions can lead to downtime and where the reduction of downtime equates to improved profitability,” Juan-Eric concludes.
www.skyjacks.co.za
www.igus.co.za
SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS
MAY 2026
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