Bolt and Engineering Distributors (B.E.D.) Group joined its long-standing welding supplier Fronius South Africa, as well as suppliers Simpology Group and Titeforce at Electra Mining Africa (EMA) 2026, held during September in Johannesburg.
“With this pivotal industry event only taking place every two years, B.E.D. – together with our supplier partners – sees it as a golden opportunity to share technical product and application knowledge, and showcase new technology, for the ultimate benefit of our mutual customers,” points out B.E.D. CEO Mike Giltrow.
EMA 2026 was no exception, giving B.E.D. and its partners a platform to demonstrate welding, safety and bolting technologies which positively impact customers’ productivity and profitability – while simultaneously reinforcing the supplier alliances which underpin B.E.D.’s market offering.
Fronius: the future of welding, powered by automation
As Fronius South Africa’s exclusive local distributor, B.E.D. joined Fronius on its outdoor stand to deliver a week of live, interactive welding demonstrations. The high-energy, demonstration-focused stand reflected EMA 2026’s broader themes of energy innovation, decarbonisation and operational efficiency.
Highlights included the Fronius Fortis, the new industrial workhorse succeeding the TransSteel series for high-quality manual MIG/MAG welding, and the Fronius Ignis Battery, the next generation of Fronius’s very popular AccuPocket battery welder: a cordless welding solution built for field use anywhere, anytime. Visitors also saw the Velocity Assistant (‘Velo’), described as ‘cruise control for welding’, integrated into the iWave and TPS/i flagship systems for precise, consistent long weld seams.
Collaborative welding: accessible to small and medium fabricators
A particular focus of the display was Fronius’s Cobot welding range, comprising CE-certified collaborative robot welding cells engineered for accessible automation without advanced programming skills.
“The cobot demonstration at EMA 2026 is just the beginning of B.E.D. and Fronius SA’s automation journey in South Africa. The focus going forward is on making robotic and collaborative welding genuinely accessible to small and medium fabricators: through demonstration, consultation and a support infrastructure that gives customers the confidence to invest.
As the South African manufacturing sector faces increasing pressure on labour costs, skills availability and quality consistency, soft automation represents a practical and achievable response. B.E.D. and Fronius SA are committed to being the partner that guides customers through that transition,” says Edric van der Walt, Welding Specialist at Fronius South Africa.
Simpology Group: mine-ready smart safety and asset control
Simpology Group exhibited its smart safety and asset control range, including SIMSAFE smart lockers and digital key systems for tighter control over physical keys and restricted areas. Additional offerings showcased were Simpology’s intelligent vehicle management solutions for mobile mining machinery and fleet operations, software-driven digital Lock-Out/Tag-Out protocols to prevent accidental equipment start-up and predictive safety systems supporting zero-harm initiatives across underground and heavy industrial mining sites.
“EMA 2026 was an excellent opportunity to introduce B.E.D.’s partnership with Simopology Group, as an official reseller of their locally manufactured and assembled safety and asset control systems. Mining and engineering customers were very impressed with Simpology’s integrated solutions, and digital control over a range of assets: from keys to vehicles, equipment and access,” comments Clayton Verster, B.E.D. Locks division Product Specialist.
Titeforce: precision bolting for mining, power and industrial applications
Titeforce showcased its RAD Torque Systems range of battery, electric and pneumatic torque wrenches built for demanding mining conditions, alongside partner brands TorsionX, TensionPro and Durapac for hydraulic torque, bolt tensioning and heavy lifting. Applications span maintenance on crushers, mills, haulage systems and processing plant infrastructure.
“Electra Mining Africa 2026 provided Titeforce with an excellent platform to showcase our range of specialist bolting solutions: not simply displaying equipment, but engaging directly with customers about their specific applications,” says Bryce Mayer, Global Business Director of Titeforce.
EMA 2026 also provided an important opportunity to create greater awareness around B.E.D.’s alliance with Titeforce – and how the combination of Titeforce’s technical expertise and B.E.D.’s national network of 14 branches can provide customers with significantly greater access to RAD products and local support.
“EMA 2026 reinforced our belief that there is significant potential to continue growing RAD Torque Systems across South Africa and the wider African market. Together with B.E.D., we believe we have a strong platform to increase the availability and visibility of RAD products, provide customers with improved local access and support, and continue developing long-term relationships across the industries we serve,” Mayer enthuses.
Strengthening alliances
“Electra Mining Africa 2026 was so much more than just another industry exhibition. It gave B.E.D. and our valued supplier partners the opportunity to enhance our relationships through teamwork and engaging in person with the customers who ultimately make these alliances work,” Giltrow concludes.
