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sMMe sUccess
BrimiS engineering
revolutionises the industry
through innovative solutions
The emergence of a new industrial revolution requires businesses to adapt to the
changing times through introducing innovations that they remain a step ahead
of the pack, which is what Brimis Engineering seeks to ensure for its clients.
F
ounded by Andile Nqandela in 2013, the
company brings innovation to engineers,
not only saving them money but also
helping them prevent catastrophic plant failures
by maintaining their fluid control systems. Brimis
Engineering is a non-traditional mechanical
engineering company that offers fluid control
engineering solutions to power stations, water
boards, petrochemical and mines.
“We are very agile in our services, forever
offering options for optimisation or technology
advancement and we are conveniently available
24/7 for emergency or breakdown work,” says
Nqandela, who is the Managing Director.
Nqandela, who has a mechanical engineering
background, was recently joined by Moeketsi
Mpotu, another mechanical engineer who now
has a 25% shareholding in the company. Brimis
Engineering is a 100% black youth owned business
that has a combined experience of 20 years in
the engineering, energy and mining industries.
It operates in Middelburg, Mpumalanga – the
heart of power generation and coal mines in
South Africa.
The company specialises in the refurbishment
and testing of industrial valves, as well as sells and
installs them. Nqandela explains that industrial
valves are essential in preventing explosions,
regulating pressures, isolating to prevent spills and
flow control in pipelines conveying gases such as
steam, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and hydrogen, as
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well as liquids such as water and fuel, and slurries.
With a current turnover of R6 million per annum
and staff complement of 10 full-time employees,
four interns (annually) and about 50 site project
temporary employees, Brimis Engineering believes
it has finally curtailed most of the challenges it
faced when it started out, which include high staff
turnover, lack of capital, credibility and penetrating
a niche market.
“Clients have started believing in our capabilities,
hence our employees now believe there
is potential growth so they can stay in the
company longer. Also, having ISO9001 systems
in place provides assurance to clients that
there is consistency in the quality of service,”
explains Nqandela.
To stay ahead of the pack, Nqandela says, requires
continuous improvement in systems and
processes, including personal development for
everyone in the company; conducting regular
reviews of the company strategy and vision;
collaborating with reputable partners who
have more experience; and being innovative
to stay relevant in the advent of the fourth
industrial revolution.
The managing director advises aspiring
entrepreneurs to be visionaries and that they
should document their ideas, aiming very
high. He also advises that they should leverage
their resources and partner with people with
more working capital and networks. “Know
your operations in and out, that is, finances,
products, customers. Use manual systems
before advancing to automated ones, for
instance, using spreadsheets before attempting
accounting systems.”
Nqandela further warns that getting into business
with the sole purpose of making quick money is
the biggest mistake an entrepreneur can make. He
notes that in reality it takes some time to master
a concept and start making money out of it. “The
principle of ‘no pain no gain’ applies fully in any
business venture,” he adds.
The engineer says it is still difficult to transform
the engineering sector in South Africa. He cites
very high capital costs for investing and running a
basic engineering workshop, as well as extremely
expensive equipment as deterrents in this industry,
compared to traditional domestic businesses.
“There is still a perception that black people
cannot run engineering businesses. As a result,
every time we solicit business, we are vigorously
audited, expected to have experience before
being awarded an opportunity for a contract
or an order, we get recommended for basic
enterprise development and are treated as
though we are inexperienced, which is unjustly
based on our period of existence, a rather unfair
practice, particularly if the owners have equivalent
experience,” laments Nqandela.
