MACSTEEL: Serious Metal in Superior Steel Solutions

The mantra, “one size doesn’t fit all,” has possibly never rung truer than at Macsteel. “We understand the full steel picture and how you, our valued customers, can benefit from value-added services that elevate your quality steel purchase to new heights,” the company expands.

“Our product offering is designed around the needs of the industries in which our customers operate, and we pride ourselves in taking the time to understand customers’ exact requirements.”

CUSTOMER CENTRICITY

Just one highlight among an extensive product portfolio in which the continuous pursuit of reinvention is at the forefront, Macsteel VRN offers specialised plate, stainless steel and aluminium, as well as the largest network of steel service centres in sub-Saharan Africa. Having become part of the Macsteel group in 1990, today Macsteel VRN supplies specialised steel for specific needs including quenched and tempered carbon steel, stainless steel flat and long products and aluminium in flat and extruded form.

“We have a large network of steel service centres and that is where the value-add comes in,” explains Uys Loubser, Senior Branch Manager at VRN Gauteng of this unique offering. “We’ve invested in technologically advanced equipment which enables us to supply complex cut and profiled components with tight tolerance to a diverse set of industries – from rail and transport components, to mining, to as far as stainless steel chambers for the medical industry.

“We provide these solutions to our customers from a network of eight branches in Gauteng, Durban, Cape Town, Kathu, Klerksdorp, Rustenburg, Springbok and Witbank, and our footprint is shaped by the spread of targeted industries – wherever there is a sustainable demand for our services.” 

As Loubser points out, no-one ever uses a raw piece of plate – something must be done to every single one, whether cut, bent or shaped in some way. “We provide expert advice on the best materials for the job and we work with the customer to agree on the best solution,” Loubser says. “Then we cut the material to size and, in the end, the customer is provided with a kit containing easy to assemble pieces.

“We pride ourselves on ensuring the highest quality standards are maintained,” Loubser reiterates. “When it comes to specific, safety critical applications, we need to ensure that the steel conforms to the customer and application requirements. Macsteel VRN remains committed to providing the best material, ready-made for assembly at the right time, at the right price. That is what customer-centricity is all about.”

COMPLETE SOLUTION

Structural steel is as diverse as it is critical, and may fall into light, medium or heavy categories. Light structural steel is easy to work with, with low carbon used predominantly in our everyday life. Medium and heavy structural steel, meanwhile, is used for applications bearing a load and which would require material test certificates – building houses, for instance, or warehouses and structures in the mining environment, among many others.

For customers in such industries like fabricators and construction companies, the most important consideration is the peace of mind that the material will not fail, making its quality of pivotal importance. “In this economy, it’s about what you get for the price you pay,” condenses Martin Mokoena, Senior Regional Sales Manager: Gauteng, in an increasingly competitive steel business where Macsteel must enable the customer to be competitive while keeping its own business thriving and sustainable.

“We have to drive efficiencies to keep the price as low as possible but not get involved in price wars,” explains Martin. “We have to ensure quality of our products and maintain our reputation for only supplying material that you can trust. Macsteel is further differentiated by their stockholding capabilities. When customers require products, we are able to supply and deliver according to their project schedules. Being agile and offering flexibility when the customer needs it most.

“All of these differentiators prove to their customers that Macsteel is able to partner with them so that they don’t just focus on the price or just on quality. Macsteel offers the complete solution.”