LH Marthinusen, a division of ACTOM, has opened a R32 million industrial fan production facility in Germiston, Gauteng. The launch took place on May 29, 2025.
The plant will manufacture large industrial fans for energy, mining and food processing applications, serving domestic infrastructure projects and regional export opportunities.
Local manufacturing and procurement
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition identifies the factory as an outcome of the National Industrial Participation Programme. ACTOM supplied industrial goods to Eskom and committed to fulfil the programme’s obligations.
Those obligations use government procurement to support domestic manufacturing, technology transfer and local industry. Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau expects local fan production to generate downstream demand for steel producers.
ACTOM chief executive Mervyn Naidoo said the facility also houses a training centre with 80 young apprentices enrolled at the time of the opening.
Artisan training in Germiston
ACTOM had already relocated its established training centre to larger Germiston premises in 2024. Technical training manager Kobus Swanepoel described a training operation with a 30-year history and additional space for equipment and apprentices.
The centre’s eight accredited apprenticeship trades were:
- Mechanical fitter; fitter and turner.
- Metal machinist; tool, jig and die maker.
- Millwright; electrician.
- Boilermaker; welder.
The three-year programmes combine theoretical, practical and work-based training. Apprentices must pass a trade test to obtain a Red Seal certificate. During the relocation period, the centre was applying for accreditation under revised occupational qualifications and for permission to conduct trade testing internally.
Swanepoel reported an annual intake of 150 candidates in 2024, emphasising training quality over filling all available places. The centre had extended its original mandate beyond training ACTOM’s own artisans to include apprentices from other companies.
A cohort that began on Jun 1, 2024 comprised 120 apprentices: 32 from ACTOM divisions, 50 from the training centre and 38 from other companies.
Company contact
LH Marthinusen, a division of ACTOM
338 Main Reef Road, Denver, Johannesburg, South Africa
Telephone: +27 11 615 6722
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.lhm.co.za
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