SimesAfrica Pty. Ltd. Johannesburg South Africa

This Company started as a Simesa dealer a few years after the end of the Second World War.
A decade later, in spite of being happy with the quality of all Simesa products, they decided to start local manufacturing.
Main reasons were unfavourable rate of exchange, high freight costs (during closing of the Suez Canal) and a hope to produce machines more adapted to the particular African conditions.

Niarb was at hand and starting around the early seventies, the SimesAfrica - Niarb co-operation became fully operative.
The amount of work done, particularly adapting the design of all machines to the South African conditions has been huge.
The easiest way to describe the full support given by Niarb to SimesAfrica during a couple of decades is the following Simesafrica Story edited by SimesAfrica itself:

One of the most intriguing studies made by Niarb for SimesAfrica was the one for designing a full line of Low Profile self propelled vibrating Compactors for Underground Jobs.

In the late eighties all underground mines started transforming their operation into the so called "Trackless Mine" system: all transportation underground was to change from "Narrow Gauge" railway system into Rubber Tired Truck system.

Since head clearance of underground galleries and tunnels is very low, all transportation means (albeit on rubber tires) must have a very Low Profile. 1.8 metre height is tolerated, 1.6 metre is normally required, and 1.4 metre is very desirable! No self-propelled compacting rollers available on the marked could fulfil the new requirements of the "Trackless Mine System".

Niarb completely redesigned its line of self propelled Vibrating Compactors, enabling SimesAfrica to offer a unique line of Low Profile Compactors.

The new century will start without any competitor being in a position to offer Low Profile Compactors to compete with the successful SimesAfrica Low Profile Compactors Line.

The above picture shows the peculiar transverse position of the operator, deeply tug in an "armoured" cockpit following accurately the latest prescriptions of the mines.