Quality Underpins Haggie Distribution’s Regional Growth
In an industry where safety cannot be compromised, Haggie Distribution believes quality must remain at the heart of every purchasing decision. The company is also building on more than a century of local manufacturing experience as it pursues new opportunities in Southern Africa. Lifting Africa finds out more.
The past few years have tested businesses across the industrial sector, but Haggie Distribution has continued to hold its ground. General manager Trevor Herbert says that although business is slightly down year on year, this is largely because several specific projects completed last year have not been repeated. The company is nevertheless finding opportunities in industries such as gold and platinum mining, while its growing regional footprint is providing additional momentum.
Expanding across Southern Africa
“We have for some time been focused on expanding our footprint in Southern Africa,” said Herbert. “Over the past two years, we have opened up markets in Zimbabwe and increased our investment in Namibia, where we already had an existing branch in Windhoek.”
This has seen the company open an office in Walvis Bay, where oil discoveries are driving new interest, while Zimbabwe’s growing mining sector continues to offer promising opportunities. “Other markets into which we have expanded include Mauritius and Mozambique. These are all looking very positive, so we are going to continue moving slowly but surely into those Southern African markets,” he said.
According to Herbert, customers operating in highly regulated industries are increasingly conscious of the need to purchase equipment that meets the required standards. They also want products that are backed by technical expertise and local support.
“It is fine to import a product, but when something goes wrong, you need to have that fallback,” he said. “Customers need a supplier that can support the product and help ensure they are buying the correct equipment for the application.”
This is particularly important in lifting, where equipment failure or incorrect use can have serious consequences. For this reason, Herbert believes quality and compliance should carry as much weight as price in any purchasing decision. Haggie Distribution is renowned worldwide for its manufacturing capability. “We are South African-based, but we have an international pedigree that is accepted around the world,” said Herbert. The company supplies ropes to markets including North America, Canada, South America, Australia and China. It is also the only rope manufacturer in the Southern Hemisphere, according to Herbert.
One of its particular strengths is the manufacture of triangular strand rope. The technology used to produce this specialised rope was developed at the company’s local factory, which is regarded as one of the world leaders in triangular rope construction and manufacturing.
While the basic principles of rope manufacturing have remained largely unchanged for a century, technological advances are improving the materials, machinery and production processes used.
Haggie Distribution operates its own steel plant, allowing it to control the quality of the raw material used to manufacture steel wire rope, chain, strand and other products. Developments in steel manufacturing have enabled it to produce higher-quality raw material, while improvements to machinery have increased production speed and efficiency.
Modern drives, dies and other machine components have made it possible to achieve significantly higher operating speeds. Herbert cites the example of wire-drawing machinery that has increased production from around nine metres a minute to approximately 25 metres a minute. “The principle of making the rope remains the same, but the technology used in the raw materials and machinery has made the process far more efficient,” he explained.
Quality beyond price
Quality remains particularly important for the company. “In lifting, considering the risks involved whenever a load is raised from the ground, ropes have to be of the highest standard. Equipment failure or incorrect use can result in serious injury, making lifting a priority within the safety policies of many major industrial companies.”
With this in mind, Herbert says purchasers should ensure that equipment complies with recognised standards.
“A lot of equipment is imported, including ropes, and it is not always of the best quality. Our industry is highly regulated. It is not always easy when you are complying as a reputable company but competing against companies bringing in substandard products.”
His advice to customers is always to ensure that suppliers provide the relevant test certificate or certificate of conformance. These documents offer important assurance that equipment has been manufactured and tested according to prescribed requirements.
The company’s Cape Town operation also holds DNV accreditation for products used in offshore applications. Maintaining this international accreditation requires regular auditing and significant investment, but it gives offshore customers confidence that products meet the stringent requirements of their operating environment.
“Quality is important,” said Herbert. “As an industry, we must remain focused on maintaining high standards and ensuring that our reputation is not undermined by products of questionable quality.” He says procurement decisions should consider far more than the initial purchase price. Compliance, reliability, application suitability, technical advice and local support all contribute to the long-term value of lifting equipment. “Price is important, but it is only one element of the decision,” he said. “Just as important is local technical support, which becomes especially valuable when equipment needs to be inspected, serviced or assessed. Established suppliers can assist customers in selecting the correct equipment for a particular application and provide support throughout its working life.”
According to Herbert, this solutions-based approach is increasingly important as lifting requirements become more specialised.
While general-purpose steel wire ropes remain suitable for applications such as cranes and winches, highly specialised ropes can contain as many as 500 individual wires and extend for kilometres. Ensuring that every component comes together correctly requires considerable manufacturing expertise. Ongoing inspection is equally important. Certain lifting equipment must be proof-loaded and inspected every 12 months, while regulated mining applications can require more frequent rope examinations.
These checks can identify broken wires, corrosion, loss of rope area and changes in diameter before they develop into larger problems. Herbert says Haggie Distribution continues to use every available opportunity to educate customers about responsible procurement, correct equipment selection and safe use.
He also welcomes the progress being made by the lifting industry’s representative body, particularly through its engagement with the Department of Labour and the Engineering Council of South Africa. For Haggie Distribution, stronger industry representation and a continued focus on professional standards are encouraging signs for the future.
Backed by 104 years of experience, local manufacturing expertise and a growing regional presence, the company remains confident about the opportunities ahead.
Haggie Distribution,
+27 (0) 11 601 8400,
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