• Home
• About Us
  • Our Vision
  • Objectives
  • Code of Ethics
  • Products & Services
  • Training
• Members
  • Member Benefits
  • Galvanizing
  • Corporate
  • International
  • Associate Galvanizing
  • Associate Support
  • Affiliate Companies
  • Affiliate Professionals
  • A to Z
• Technical
  • Case Studies
  • Misconceptions
  • Information Sheets
  • FAQ's
• Publications
• Awards
• Links
• Contact Us

2008 Hot Dip Galvanizing Awards

The Hot Dip Galvanizers Association of Southern Africa hosted the 2008 Hot Dip Galvanizing Awards Evening on Friday 29 August in The Ballroom of Montecasino.

Chief Adjudicator, Bob Andrew says “In judging hot dip galvanized steel applications, it is necessary to focus on the role that hot dip galvanizing has on the performance and success of the item that was galvanized. Generally, the role of hot dip galvanizing is to increase the service life and reduce maintenance costs. If this was the only criterion, all entries would have to receive an award. Applications, however, where the use of hot dip galvanized steel improves the functionality of equipment or allows equipment to have added functions and benefits, received the closest attention. Several entries were based on the above and this is viewed as a very positive trend for the market development of hot dip galvanized steel”.

Winner of the WGS Barnett Trophy (2008 Overall Winner): The Raise Tech W50 Drilling Machine
A compact and maneuverable drilling machine rig which is hot dip galvanized for corrosion protection.

Viewing hot dip galvanized steel as a unique material of construction with unique benefits that, with a sense of creativity and a spirit of innovation, will undoubtedly provide a host of new applications to be exploited. The purpose of the Hot Dip Galvanizing Awards is not only to celebrate achievements in this regard, but to raise awareness and passion of just what can be achieved.

Just galvanizing an item of steel should not be the basis of an award, one must consider the exceptional as a critical factor in determining the overall winner. In this case, the use of hot dip galvanized steel improved the functionality of the equipment and added benefits such as cost saving for the client.

Category Winners are as follows:

Architectural Category: The Private Stabling Facility in Alverstone
A private hot dip galvanized stabling facility in Alverstone, Kwazulu Natal.

Based on the extensive, personal use of hot dip galvanized steel, with the emphasis on design and planning, the winner of this category met all the judging criteria; particularly that of celebrating the superiority of hot dip galvanized steel, raising visibility and promoting its visual benefits.

Duplex Coating Systems Category: Dust Mitigation Shelters in Saldanha
The fabrication and installation of frames for dustcovers for conveyors on iron ore lines.

Having showed how the benefits of low maintenance and long term performance in a remote area, can be provided by a duplex coating system, this entry promoted professionalism with the transfer of knowledge. Furthermore, by serving the interests of the customer, a quality product was produced. The need to have sustainable dust mitigation for environmental protection was promoted with this entry.

Infrastructural Development Category: Steel Frame School Buildings in the Transkei
Hot dip galvanizing of steel frame school buildings for rural Transkei

This entry showed the importance of using hot dip galvanized steel for civil engineering applications where long-term corrosion protection is essential to sustain the functionality of structural components. The long-term corrosion protective ability of hot dip galvanized steel promotes the cost effectiveness of the item and the ability to re-use the steel foundation in cases where expansion or relocation is required. In this particular entry, an innovative steel design was used.

Innovation Category: Raise Tech W50 Drilling Machine
A compact and maneuverable drilling machine rig which is hot dip galvanized for corrosion protection.

While hot dip galvanized steel has proven experience as a superior material of construction for both surface and underground mining applications, its use for mechanical components and equipment has been extremely limited on account of many practical issues, for example ensuring tolerances are maintained.

The winner has tabled the successful performance of a hot dip galvanized rock drilling machine after a 3-month period of underground service. The cost saving derived by hot dip galvanized rock drills, mainly on account of providing longer intervals between repairs and refurbishment, is particularly noteworthy and represents a very exciting new development for both the hot dip galvanizing and the mining industry.

Mining and Industrial Category: Mafube Colliery
The hot dip galvanizing of all structural steel for the materials handling facility for the new Anglo Colliery.

The winner proved to be an excellent example that encompasses all the characteristics of hot dip galvanized steel, including longevity and cost effective economics. The professional and sustained relationship between the galvanizer and customer is based on quality of product and service delivery. This relationship involved extensive transfer of knowledge resulting in the promotion of professionalism and the dissemination of knowledge.

Vintage Category: The Floating Jetties
Duplex coating system for floating jetties in sea water.

The duplex system currently being used on this project has had 10 years of successful performance and was the culmination of a lengthy development process in which uncoated hot dip galvanized steel and other developmental coating systems were investigated. The award thus not only celebrates the proven success of the system now being used, but also the perseverance of all parties involved to develop and achieve a reliable corrosion protection system for an important application.

Special Commendations were presented to the following projects:

Andries Botha Sculpture

Andries Botha, a Durban based artist, began making elephant sculptures 3 years ago as part of an international sculpture project – Beaufort Triennale 2006, where a family of 9 life size elephants were created and displayed on a beach in Belgium for 6 months. They were subsequently bought by the Antwerp Zoo, where they were exhibited in a square outside the zoo for the summer of 2007.

The “Phoenix” elephant is a private commission for an individual from Amsterdam as a memorial to his wife, who had an intense fascination with elephants and had seen Andries’ elephants on exhibition.
The sculpture will be based at his country home in Brabant, outside of Amsterdam. Andries Botha recommended that the elephant be hot dip galvanized because the area is situated close to the coast and it was important to Andries to supply a durable product to his client.

This elephant is different to the other elephants in that it has a “heart”, which is a hollowed out piece of wood inside the chest cavity of the animal, into which tributes and letters will be placed.

Plant Improvement Project – Galvrite Galvanising (Pty) Ltd

The hot dip galvanizing plant in Randfontein has been through a series of owners, resulting in a steady decline in productivity, a serious reduction in quality standards and levels of service delivery.
Before June 2007 (the date of the acquisition by Alliance Group), the number of quality complaints averaged five to seven per week. This has been turned around and shown a steady improvement, currently the complaints have fallen to zero, with the last complaint being received in March 2008, which when investigated, was found to be a matter of client education with the need for minor site repairs.

With the change of ownership, the company has introduced numerous management control systems, including a QA system, improved transport facilities, additional pre-treatment and replacement tanks, upgrading of buildings and surrounding yard area and the introduction of various training courses aimed at improving product knowledge, productivity and safety standards.

The HDGASA would like to use this opportunity to thank the sponsors for supporting this event and to congratulate the winners. Thanks should also be extended to the members of the Association, without whom events such as the Awards Evening would not be possible.