OUR VALUES
The expectation is that all leaders, employees and contractors behaviour and actions are guided by the values of the company. These values defines how we do things or expect things to be done to achieve the mission and overall vision of the business. These six key values as manifested by our actions are:
- Transparency and honesty in all our dealings and transactions for both RMS and its stakeholders.
- Delivery of superior performance through collective efforts of the RMS team and its suppliers.
- We strive for excellence in our products and services, thereby exceeding customer expectations.
- We embrace change and believe in continuous improvement of the organization as whole.
- Customers are integral to our success, therefore it is our aspiration to establish long-term partnerships with them. Our customer’s success is intertwined with ours.
- We are responsible corporate citizens by contributing positively to the social environment in our communities we operate in and to protect mother earth for future generations.
Transparency & Honesty
Superior Performance
Strive for Excellence
Continuous Improvement
Long-Term Partnerships
Environmentally Conscious
Our Vision Is To unlock and create value from mineral resources for the benefit of society.
OUR STORY
Refractory and Metallurgical Solutions (RMS) beginning was as the South African brick manufacturing business of Vereeniging Refractories in Vereeniging and Springs.
In 2014, the brickmaking and basic monolithic businesses underwent a management buyout, the business trading as Verref Shaped.
After a major restructuring in 2016, the name of the business was changed to Refractory and Metallurgical Solution Pty Ltd. At the same time, RMS started shaping its business model around its technical expertise and world class product range.
Our roots are strongly entrenched in South Africa where our parent company Vereeniging Refractories enabled the unlocking of the mineral wealth and industrialisation. RMS has now entered a new dawn, looking at contributing to the growth of a new inclusive South Africa and a new global economy
Split Entities
The owners of Vereeniging Refractories made the decision to unbundle the business into four business units. The four entities became known as “Verref Trade (Pty) Ltd”, “Verref Elgin (Pty) Ltd”, “Verref Shaped (Pty) Ltd” and “Verref Minerals”. “Vereeniging Refractories (Pty) Ltd” became the holding company.
Individual Trading
All entities started trading individually and independently.
Independence
“Verref Shaped (Pty) Ltd” was sold to a consortium including management and Sasfin Private Equity on 1 April 2014, creating a new, independent South African refractory producer, not associated with Vereeniging Refractories.
Business Rescue
Entered due to the major economic slowdown at the end of 2015 in the world metals markets. The plan was to restructure the company to be sustainable long term and keep refractory manufacturing in South Africa. As such, Verref Shaped entered into a toll manufacturing agreement with Vesuvius South Africa, whereby all shaped basic and firebrick products are produced by Vesuvius. The agreement commenced in February 2016. RMS forged a working partnership with LTM technologies for the production of all monolithic materials. RMS exited business rescue on 18 October 2016.
Full Rebrand
The company was rebranded to “Refractory and Metallurgical Solutions Pty Ltd” on 9 November 2016, heralding a new chapter in the company. The company’s vision is to become the “Preferred refractory and metallurgical supplier in Southern Africa and the World.”
BBBEE Shareholding increases to 12%
WIPHOLD acquires 25 percent shareholding in Sasfin Bank, lifting BBBEE shareholding in RMS to 12 percent.
Dalmia OCL & BBBEE Increase
Conclude a distribution and agency agreement to market and sell Dalmia OCL products to RMS customers in SADC.
RMS concludes its BBBEE deal and lifted its shareholding to 36.99%. Read more here.
COVID-19
RMS and the rest of the world makes the necessary changes to adapt to Covid-19.
We offered support services to local businesses to help them adjust and prepare to open under different lockdown levels.
SABS Localisation Accreditation for Refractory Brick Manufacture
RMS gets accreditation for locally produced magnesia chrome and alumina silicate refractory brick from the SABS in accordance to the Mining Charter requirements in South Africa.
BBBEE Level 4 Accreditation
RMS achieves Level 4 BBBEE accreditation, making it compliant as required by the Mining Charter and DTI codes. RMS becomes the fist and only refractory brick supplier in South Africa to be fully compliant with the Mining Charter, achieving a Level 4 status and holding a SABS localisation accreditation for its products.
Did You Know?
The company was started by Sammy Marx in Vereeniging, originally called “Vereeniging Refractories”. The business was started when the clays around the area showed superior refractory properties. The company evolved through the decades to become the biggest refractory producer in the Southern hemisphere, operating and owning various operations and mines.
OUR OPERATIONS
RMS consists of three operational sites located at Vereeniging and Olifantsontein (Vesuvius toll manufactured products), in the Gauteng province.
The Vesuvius toll manufacturing operations manufacture basic and high alumina-silicate bricks at its Olifantsfontein plant. All production is overseen by RMS technical staff and is produced using RMS IP and supplied raw materials.
The Vereeniging site operations consists of a small fusion plant to produce the raw materials for basic brick manufacture, finishing (cutting and grinding facilities) and warehouse facilities. The site also houses the technology centre where all technical functions including research and development for the company is conducted.
All monolithic products produced by RMS (basic and high alumina monolithic products) is produced in a new facility located close to the Vereeniging site, at our technology partner, LTM Technologies.
The plant, equipment, raw materials and IP for the production of basic and high alumina products is 100 percent owned by RMS and managed and operated by LTM Technologies. The partnership gives RMS access to the technology owned by LTM Technologies to produce and develop a full range of alumina silicate monolithic materials as well as a modern precast facility.
RMS global partners are Dalmia OCL in India, sourcing refractory products for the Iron and Steel, Cement and Glass sectors for our SADC customers. In addition, RMS has partners in China supplying various shaped products and graphite materials (blocks, electrodes). Our partners have been hand-picked by RMS management to ensure that our values and business principles are aligned, but importantly quality and service is met.
WHAT WE STRIVE FOR
The mission of the company is to be the preferred refractory and metallurgical solutions provider within Southern Africa and globally. We will achieve this mission through:
- Continued learning & applying best principles into answering the challenges faced by clients in refractory use & applications including our products & services;
- Building strong partnerships with suppliers and clients, ensuring a seamless value chain that delivers on the expectations of the client,
- Build strategic global partnerships giving access to products and technologies to enhance the service and product offerings that exceeds client expectations;
- Develop and produce products that are fit for purpose, that adds value and that reduces the overall impact on the environment throughout the value chain.
OUR ADVANCES
36.99% BBBEE STATUS
RMS concluded a BBBEE deal that lifted it's black shareholding to 36.99 percent.
SHEQ POLICY
RMS is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment, ensuring sound environmental management and supplying fit for purpose products and services that exceeds our customer and industry expectations.
OUR TEAM
Dennis Brazier
Managing Director
Mark Kruger
Marketing and Sales Director
Arno Dietrich
Operations Director
Dirk Robinson
Technical and Projects DirectorLatest News
RMS improves BBBEE rating to Level 4 & becomes SA’s only compliant local refractory brick manufacturer.
BBBEE Rating Update Refractory & Metallurgical Solutions has improved its BBBEE rating to level 4, in the latest 2022 audit. This has been a 4
RMS Receives SABS Accreditation for Local Content in the Manufacture of Refractory Brick Products
RMS is pleased to announce that it has received accreditation as per clause 2.2.3, Verification of local content, under the Mining Charter: broad-based socio-economic empowerment
Increased freight rates & availability of containers impact refractory costs & lead times
Ocean freight rates have soared greatly for all trade routes since September 2020 due to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The freight rates