“The Goscor Group has become a powerful entity and we wanted to strongly show that we are part of that entity,” says Goscor Arc managing director Rob Pirie. “There are many benefits to being part of a large, powerful organisation especially in challenging trading times. People, with some justification, trust in bigger organisations having more faith in their ability to deliver a service long after the deal is done.”

Pirie adds that, in any event, he wanted to get away from the ‘engineering’ label as it has been at least ten years since Goscor Arc built any engineering products. “We have focssed on welding and cutting solutions and the decision to do so has paid off handsomely,” he says.

Goscor Arc has become one of the leading solutions providers to the welding industry in southern Africa. It originally built its name in southern Africa on the quality of its service and the ESAB brand. More recently it took on the Lincoln Electric agency for this region.

Pirie says that despite the fact that Goscor Arc is expert in the two leading brand names in welding, it will be emphasising more the fact that it provides total solutions to welding challenges.

“In essence we will continue to do what we have been doing in the past,” says Pirie, “which is providing our customers with the most cost effective and efficient solution for their welding needs irrespective of what equipment or service is required.”

One of these services is training from its dedicated training centre in Richards Bay, where the central goal is to supply industry with sufficiently qualified welders for specific jobs. “The centre is capable of accommodating up to 40 trainees in courses lasting from a week to three months or more,” says Pirie. “They are then tested in-house and under-go a third-party inspection test before returning to the workplace.”

The centre also offers advanced training for previously certified welders and can supply Goscor Arc customers with lists of those who have successfully passed the respective courses.

Pirie adds that the centre also helps previously disadvantaged people in the surrounding area to gain skills over a short period of time at a reasonable price. “In so doing, the centre is empowering individuals while, at the same time, benefiting the welding industry as a whole,” he said.

Debby Parsonson, Goscor group marketing manager says that Goscor Arc’s new image is line with the group’s realignment of all its divisions. “We have a conglomeration of outstanding performers and the rebranding will help bring about the advantages of economies of scale,” she says.

Apart from Goscor Arc, the Goscor Group has Goscor Lift Truck Company, distributor of Crown and Doosan lift trucks, Goscor Cleaning Equipment, distributor of industrial, commercial and specialised cleaning equipment, Goscor Power Products, distributors of Robin Subaru, Meiwa, Grasshopper and Sullair in the construction, agricultural and industrial markets, Goscor Rental Company, which deals with short-term rental of forklifts, industrial cleaning equipment and compressors and Goscor Finance which provides creative financial solutions for its customers.