Page 14 - Issue 22

14 In The News

Engineering ‘prowess’

aids Flo-tek to capture

regional CPVC market

hen we talk about companies operational arrangement. Today Flotek products to our customers in-order to
which have started from proudly stands as an ISO 9001:2015 create the necessary value for them.
Whumble beginnings to power certified company and the largest We have positioned ourselves as
houses in Botswana we can note a producer of Plastic pipes in the region an innovative manufacturer, we are
handful. One such company is Flo-Tek. with a production capacity of 35 000 constantly coming up with innovative
The company this May celebrated at tonnes annually. They have world class solutions and products”, he said.
BOBS offices a certification of their new in house laboratories in Botswana, South Flo-Tek has operations in Lobatse and
landmark innovative plumbing solution Africa and Angola that regularly perform in Ramotswa as part of its expansion
called Flo-Tek Flowguard plumbing tests to ensure that their products meet drive. He spoke on the distribution
solution. The Director of Flo-Tek Mr Naik regulation and quality standards.50%+ network operational in South Africa
said they have acquired this technology of the production is done in Botswana, (Midrand, Nelspruit, Port Elizabeth,
through signing a licence agreement 70% of that production is exported into East London, Klerksdorp D,undee) and
with Lubrizol Corporation, a US based the SADC region. Angola (Luanda and Lobito),as well as
company so they can manufacture CPVC Namibia(Windhoek).Early May they
pipes in Botswana for the entire SADC Mr Naik stated that they produce plastic opened in Lusaka, Zambia and they
region. CPVC is an innovative plumbing pipes, fittings, irrigation products, tanks, have plans to open in Mozambique and
solution that is used for hot and cold underground septic tanks, underground Zimbabwe.
water applications. The solution has manhole and inspection chambers. In
been used in US for the past 50 years South Africa Flotek is producing HDPE
and 25 years in Asia and Gulf countries. pipes up to 1000mm diameter and
servicing the mining sector. Locally
Seaking at the same occasion Mr Naik they produce PVC pipes up to 500mm
spoke of the inspirational rise of Flotek diameter.Flo-Tek is employing over 550 We have
from its establishment in Lobatse citizens in Botswana, 100 in Angola
1998. The company started operations and 150 in South Africa. Numbers are committed
with 1 extrusion machine and 10 expected to increase locally because ourselves to bring
employees to manufacture PVC pipes. they are going to manufacture the Flo- more innovative
They faced a few challenges in terms Tek Flow guard plumbing solution here
of getting accreditation from SABS in Botswana . products to our
and acquiring market share locally At customers..
the time manufacturing was still new “Ladies and Gentlemen at Flo-Tek we
to Botswana and operating a 24 hour believe that innovation is very critical
shift 7 days a week was very tough as in all industries.We have committed
employees were not used to that type of ourselves to bring more innovative

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