Buckets & Truck Beds|Planet Earth|VR Steel

Redefining Mining

Earth Moving Mining Equipment

Specialists in manufacturing large mining equipment

Services we offer

CUSTOM DESIGNED PRODUCTS

We custom design and manufacture earth moving equipment to suit mining requirements and targets.

REPAIRS ON O.E.M. PRODUCTS

We repair and upgrade a wide range of earth moving equipment.

ENGINEERING

We have the skills and a comprehensive set of simulation tools to solve equipment and site-specific challenges.

REPAIRS

We repair our products back to specification after being worn down or battle damaged.

SMALL PARTS

We design and manufacture small parts and spares: pins, bushes, dragline rigging, GET etc. for draglines, trucks, rope shovels and face shovel buckets.

OUR VALUES

Innovation

We challenge the status quo in our systems and product ranges, foster the ability to act with speed and agility to drive our global growth, and respect change without resistances.

Collaboration

We fuel more powerful ideas, greater opportunities and deeper relationships by sharing information and thoughts to achieve common objectives together. We believe that local goals are necessary but not sufficient, and recognize the strength of collaborative teamwork.

Accountability

We honor our commitments, acknowledge our mistakes, anticipate our client's needs, support one another and serve our communities.

Family

We strongly uphold family and family values in our relationships with colleagues since we believe these are the cornerstones of civilized society and provide the framework for leadership, personal accomplishment & growth.

Freedom

We enjoy freedom:
freedom to speak out when things are wrong, freedom to create, freedom to fail, and ultimately freedom to seek financial freedom.

PRODUCTS

GLOBAL FLEET FOOTPRINT:

0363

TAPER BUCKET

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to see our
Taper Bucket

DRAGLINE BUCKET

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to see our
Dragline Bucket

EXCAVATOR BUCKET

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to see our
Excavator Bucket

RIGID DUMP TRUCK TRAY

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to see our
RIGID DUMP TRUCK TRAY

FACE SHOVEL BUCKET

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to see our
Face Shovel

ROPE SHOVEL DIPPER

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to see our
Dipper

TAPER BUCKET

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"Innovation starts by intimately observing your customer."- George Gutsche

The VR Steel Taper Bucket was born from the Conventional Dragline Bucket. It is designed to operate without a spreader bar – resulting in larger volumes with more consistent filling.

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"Innovation comes from saying NO to 1,000 things."- Steve Jobs

Our Dippers are adaptable to any shovel model and has consistently high fill factors.

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"The best way to predict the future is to invent it."- Alan Kay

VR Steel’s Conventional Dragline Bucket is the cornerstone of the product range. It was the first product ever produced and since then it has evolved into a very mature product to align with any mine’s unique requirement.

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"This world is but a canvas to our imagination."- Henry David Thoreau

VR Steel’s Excavator Buckets are designed to target high fill factors with consistent filling. Each bucket is custom designed to interface seamlessly with any excavator machine.

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"Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere."- Albert Einstein

VR Steel’s Faceshovels are designed to achieve target high fill factors with consistent filling. Each bucket is custom designed to interface seamlessly with any excavator model.

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Central and Northern Africa
Hein Snyman
heins@vrsteel.co.za

VR Dragline Maintenance (Pty) Ltd
At Harvey
ath@vrsteel.co.za

VR Mining (Pty) Ltd - Australia
Paul Clarke
sales@vrmining.com.au
Tel:(+61) 438 788 657

SADC, India, South East India and South America
John van Reenen
johnvreenen@icon.co.za

VR Steel LLC - USA and Canada
Mike Moehnke
mikem@vrsteel.net

Johan van Jaarsveld
johanvj@vrsteel.net

Head Office
info@vrsteel.co.za
Tel:(+27) 11 864 7630

13a Clarke Street North
Alrode,1451
South Africa

Managing Director
John van Reenen
johnvreenen@icon.co.za

Financial Manager
Ikraam Ahmed
ikraama@vrsteel.co.za

General Manager
Justin Martens
justinm@vrsteel.co.za

Human Resources Manager
Rina Strauss
rinas@vrsteel.co.za

For any general queries, please fill in the following contact form.

Our history

2017-

VR Supports Cancer Awareness: VR releases blue and pink buckets in support of cancer.
VR Online is revamped: vrsteel.co.za and bee.org.za are remade.
VR Steel steps into IOT Development: VRS steps into the IOT workspace

2016-

VRS light weight Truck design on trial: The first lightweight design for a VRS truck tray is delivered for trial as a re-entry to the Anglo loadbody business.
Managing Director John Van Reenen turns 70: Our Managing Director John Van Reenen celebrates his 70th birthday at a spectacular Neil Diamond inspired show.
VR Mining (Pty) Ltd Reboot: VR Mining (Pty) Ltd is rebooted with the appointment of a new Managing Director, Paul Clarke.

2015-

More Success in the United States: Our buckets show a 7% increase in production and thereby continues to make inroads into the American Market.
VR Mining (Pty) Ltd all but closes: Downturn in the global economy causes contraction in Our Australian Operation ,VR implements strategy to rescue VR Mining (Pty) Ltd and reaffirms its dedication to the Australian market.

2014-

First VR Dragline bucket digs in the United States: The first VR dragline bucket sold by the new company started digging in the United States.
VR Vacates Middleburg Workshop: We are given notice to vacate our dragline bucket workshop in Middelburg.
Unsuccessful take over bid for VR Steel.: Austin Engineering in Australia makes an unsuccessful bid to take over VR Steel.

2013-

Recession in the Mining industry begins.: Recession in the Mining industry begins and lasts for the next 4 years.

2012-

VR Steel LLC Started in the USA: Started VR Steel LLC, based in Minnesota, USA.
Dragline sales in the USA starts.: Johan van Jaarsveld and Mike Moehnke joined the company and started selling dragline buckets.

2011-

March:VR Loadbody wins award.: The VR Loadbody wins a SANS Design Excellence award.
Feb:Signed a Technical Co-operation and Manufacturing Agreement.: Signed a Technical Co-operation and Manufacturing Agreement with the Pingshou Coal Company in China.

2010-

Dec:VR Mining Products SA (Pty) Ltd obtained its ISO 9001:2008 certification.: VR Mining Products SA (Pty) Ltd obtained its ISO 9001:2008 certification trough TUV at its first attempt with the primary motive to develop and improve their systems internally in order to support and facilitate improved customer satisfaction.
Nov:The VR Loadbody wins the international Swedish Steel Prize.: The VR Loadbody wins the international Swedish Steel Prize for design innovation.

2009-

Dec:VRC Mining Equipment opens in China.: VRC Mining Equipment is opened up in China due to demand for the VR Loadbody.

2008-

Jan:The first VR Loadbody is successfully trialled .: The first VR Loadbody is successfully tested in Sishen mine, Northern Cape to launch one of the most successful product lines for the group.

2006-

Oct:VR Services Rationalized: VR Steel Services has been rationalized
Oct:workshop refurbished.: The workshop refurbished to allow for the onsite assembly of dragline buckets, supplied to other companies within the group who market them both locally and internationally.

2005-

April:Richard Curtis was appointed as a director of VR draglines: With his invaluable mining expertise, Richard Curtis was appointed as a director of VR draglines to ensure efficient management and operations of the subsidiary

2004-

Nov:Richard Curtis was appointed as a director of VR draglines: With his invaluable mining expertise, Richard Curtis was appointed as a director of VR draglines to ensure efficient management and operations of the subsidiary
Oct:Ossie Zaayman partners with VR to form VR Dragline Services LLC.: With a focus on the development, design and manufacture of rigging components to complement dragline buckets, a partnership has been forged with a leading design engineer Ossie Zaayman, to form Double VR Dragline Services LLC - Colorado, USA to focus on this area.
Feb:First drag chains in development.: The first set of steel drag chains was developed by the VRS design team at the end of February and a full rigging packages are offered with the VR dragline bucket.

2003-

Nov:Top research team assembled.: A top research team was assembled, focusing on ground densities and soil modelling, rigging component optimization and dragline-mine efficiency operations, all with a view to increasing payload in the bucket and thus dragline efficiency.
VRSS acquired a 400-ton plate-rolling machine.: VRSS acquired a 400-ton plate-rolling machine capable of rolling up to 125mm thick. Modifications were then made to enable the machine to roll cones and this is currently one of the largest rolling machines in the country.

2001-

Oct:VRSS obtained its ISO 9001:2000 certifications.: VRSS obtained its ISO 9001:2000 certifications through TUV at its first attempt with the primary motive to develop their systems internally in order to support and facilitate improved customer satisfaction. Implementation of ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 is presently in process and certification is expected soon.

1999-

July:VR Dragline Services (Pty) Ltd is formed: With our dragline division forming VR Dragline Services (Pty) Ltd. A Dragline Bucket Repair Workshop began operations on the Middelburg Mine South Section and has subsequently become a world class facility doing large fabrication repairs for a number of mines in the area.

1998-

Sept:Caterpillar (Africa) buys the Wright Equipment Company.: Caterpillar (Africa) buys the Wright Equipment Company and VRS was appointed as worldwide distributor.

1997-

June:VR Mining (Pty) Ltd Australia (VRM).: VR Mining (Pty) Ltd Australia (VRM) was formed to provide sales and service operations to the Queensland and Hunter Valley opencast coal mines. With a head office based in New South Wales and an experienced team of field engineers operating from Moranbah and Mackay, in Queensland - this subsidiary is actively involved in the sale, and after-sale service, of VR dragline buckets and rigging. VRM's plan is to open its own dragline bucket repair facility in Moranbah during 2005, which will make it the most advanced workshop of its kind in the world.

1996-

Jan:VRSS acquired a 1250-ton press.: VRSS acquired a 1250-ton press with a substantial amount spent on tooling to achieve a bending length of 7, 2 meters. Besides being the largest press in the country it is also the best equipped and can cater for most bending requirements.

1994-

Feb:VR Steel Services (Pty) Ltd South Africa (VRSS) commenced business in the Groups' premises in Alrode.: VR Steel Services (Pty) Ltd South Africa (VRSS) commenced business in the Groups' premises in Alrode, with the goal of becoming a specialist steel service centre providing quality steel services. Its range of steel products was complemented by its promotion and distribution of abrasive resistant and high strength steel under the brand names of HARDOX, WELDOX and ARMOX through VRS's affiliations with SSAB.

1993-

VRS pioneers the first fabricated Dragline bucket.: VRS pioneered the development and manufacture of the first fabricated dragline bucket in the world. Through various stages of development, the WRIGHT bucket was born in a joint venture with Barlow Equipment Manufacturing Co. SA.

1992-

Jan:VR Steel (Pty) Ltd. South Africa (VRS) was founded by John van Reenen.: VR Steel (Pty) Ltd. South Africa (VRS) was founded by John van Reenen, selling quenched and tempered steel plates from a factory in Alrode, S.A.