Marco Boekhout with Interfab managing director, Brian Harrison
Traditionally a builder of vessels and associated process plant components, the Interfab Group has established itself as one of South Africa’s leaders in stainless steel fabrication and machining. The Group operates from Johannesburg, and has branches in KwaZulu Natal and the Eastern Cape.
Since its formation in 1985, Interfab has manufactured storage, process and fermenting vessels, heat exchangers and road tankers for bulk milk transport, as well as pressure and non-pressure mixing vessels. As its many end users in the food, beverage, dairy, pharmaceuticals and chemicals industries will attest, Interfab products compare with the world’s finest.
Looking ahead, technical director Marco Boekhout told Stainless Steel that the Group is actively developing export markets, and doing excellent business in pressure vessels, heat exchangers and fermentation vessels.
“The market for large process plant vessels has fallen off considerably over the last few years,” he says, “and like many others fabricators in this country, we have had to expand our horizons. With our reputation for quality workmanship, service and design capability, we know that we can compete successfully in the global market.”
A new venture for the Interfab Group is what it terms, The All-round Friendly Square Container. It’s a new concept in stackable Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) with four-way entry for forklifts. Interfab’s design allows for customisation, with standard containers for non-lethal substance or UN Chapter 16 rating for hazardous chemicals. The containers are available in 304 and 316 grades.
With a growing trend towards containerisation, these versatile IBCs look set for major success in mining and industry, to store and transport a broad spectrum of liquids and slurries. Although more expensive than similar vessels made in other metals and materials, their ruggedness and corrosion resistance make them ideal for rental applications and for refilling and shuttling from manufacturer to end user. They are available in capacities up to 3000 litres.