Page 15 - EngineerIT September 2021

ELECTRONICS

Diversity pays off highlights that Pratley has a very loyal customer base established
Its diversification strategy has stood Pratley in good stead in over many decades. “In many ways, our customers educate us
building up each division by cross-pollinating its research and as the manufacturer in terms of new and innovative applications,
development (R&D) efforts over the 73 years that the company not only for Pratley Putty but for many of our adhesive products,”
has been in existence. “If one industrial sector is down, we stresses Andrew.
have other divisions in the company that are usually doing well. “Obviously, on the export side, when penetrating a new
Especially during this time of Covid-19 and the ensuing economic market, the key is educating that market. The versatility of our
downturn and market volatility, our strategy of diversification product range is also of great assistance. The objective is to
over the years has paid off,” said Pratley chief operations officer get the user to use a product once, and when seeing inevitable
Charles Pratley. success, they will keep using it and will go on to try other Pratley
Another key factor to Pratley’s ongoing success is that it has products.”
always remained a 100% family-owned and managed business. Both Andrew and Charles have seen some interesting
“That has helped us tremendously in terms of our diversification applications over the years for Pratley Putty, from repairing
because it affords us the freedom to bring new and innovative tortoise shells to affixing transmitters to pangolins for tracking
products to the market very quickly. We are able to make purposes, and also for plugging holes in rhino horns as a
decisions relatively quickly and bring new products to market in technique to combat rhino poaching.
less time,” adds Andrew.
Pratley is even diversified in terms of its manufacturing Research and development a key factor
methods and know-how, especially as it carries out the vast As for the future, Andrew reveals that a lot of products that
majority of its own production, from plating electrical cable glands have been in the R&D pipeline for three to four years have
to in-house powder coating, adhesives mixing, and even perlite now come to fruition, from mineral to world-first electrical
processing. “Most companies would outsource such specialised products specifically for applications in hazardous areas. The
technical requirements, but we see it as a prime asset and key latter includes Pratley’s new flameproof double compression
differentiator in the market for us. We have a policy of maintaining cable gland that adheres to all relevant international standards
95% service levels, and we don’t have to rely on any supplier and requirements. On its minerals side, Pratley recently
that could be late with delivery,” notes Charles. “We are quite commissioned Africa’s most advanced perlite filter aid plant. Its
fortunate in having such a depth of manufacturing expertise and Percolite® Filter Aid is ideally suited for the filtration of liquids
the technology underpinning us.” in the food, beverage and chemical industries.
As far as the longevity of Pratley Putty is concerned, Andrew For more visit www.pratley.com n

Andrew and Charles Pratley next to the famous 13 ton bulldozer suspended using Wondafix

EngineerIT | September 2021 | 13