This, the final part of this series, looks at another very successful South African company - Ziton. Cape Town-based Ziton was originally founded in 1969 under the name Fireflite and its initial business focus was the installation of fire detection systems. By 1975 the company had developed its first in-house smoke detector and its first analog addressable system appeared in 1985. From there, the company continued to invest in research and development (the research team today consists of 30 people) and the manufacture of its own products, to eventually become a major international player in this field.
As a global player in the critical fire detection field Ziton ensures that its products meet all the relevant international standards and at present its products have been approved by the applicable bodies in the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Singapore, Australia and China.
Ziton began its international operations in 1982 with the opening of a UK office. Today, the company is represented worldwide with a team of well-trained installation specialists operating in over 40 countries. The extent of its market share is evidenced by the many high profile buildings equipped with Ziton fire detection systems. These include airports such as Stansted, Heathrow, Dusseldorf and Auckland, as well as the International areas of the Johannesburg and Durban airports. Manufacturing industry installations in the UK alone include Rolls Royce and Rover while the New Reichstag Parliament and the European Houses of Parliament have also gone the Ziton route. Throughout Europe, the Far East, Africa and the Middle East, literally dozens of hotel, bank and retail chains have been fitted out as well as a large number of well-known hospitals.
The current product range begins with basic smoke detectors (ionisation, flame, linear beam, etc) and extends through to its Paradigm X detector that uses a multisensor approach, together with multiple algorithms to provide the earliest possible warning of fire. Detectors chosen obviously depend on the particular application. Other more sophisticated products include the ZP3 Analogue Addressable system, the ZC conventional system, and Ziton's Maestro graphics, which is a computer-based operating system designed specifically for fire, security and emergency services that can be connected to any analog addressable fire system such as the well-known ZP3. This fire detection system is an advanced analog addressable system that has been approved to many international standards. The ZP3 obviously supports all of Ziton's own sensors but can also be used with a wide range of other analog addressable fire sensors. ZP3 features include automatic checking of both wires and sensors to minimise false alarms and the units have built-in diagnostics to improve the level of maintenance and reduce cost.
Besides its critical investment in continued R&D, Ziton has kept on par with its strong overseas competitors by ongoing investment in state-of-the-art SMD manufacturing and test equipment at its plant in Cape Town. This is continuously updated to meet increased production demands and the introduction of new product lines, while staff retention is high with in-house training and superior benefits. Ziton is certified to ISO 9000 by LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board, UK), VdS (Verband der Schadenversicherer, Germany) and the SABS.
To summarise
This series has taken a look at some of the leading companies in the electronics industry in South Africa today. In summary, the local electronics industry appears to be in a very healthy state in the niche areas in which it has entrenched itself. Many security products were developed in advance of requirements from overseas and have significant advantages over their more recent competition. The automotive electronics industry is benefiting from the MIPD while the defence electronics industry, having superior products available, is benefiting from offsets associated with the major arms deal.
Companies such as UEC have been re-born in new niche businesses with enormous export potential. While the fixed-line telecommunications industry is still somewhat in the doldrums, major opportunities should arise with the advent of the long-awaited second fixed line operator. While unfortunately there is no local manufacture of mobile phones for the burgeoning cellphone market, it is benefiting local industry in terms of masts for base stations and their associated electronics and electrical systems. A strong international foothold still remains in the prepayment electricity business, an opportunity first exploited by Spescom many years ago. Water prepayment systems now appear to be following the same route, with good export opportunities around the corner as well.
As the series was well received by readers it has been decided to continue through this year (2005) with a special focus being some of the smaller innovative electronics companies and those that have been enabled through government support in terms of the SPII and THRIP programmes.
© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved
printer friendly version