Industry news: Franke involved in the upgrades of government and private hospitals

Franke is specifically involved with its washroom and sanitary systems in the upgrade of Paarl Hospital in the Western Cape, King George VI Hospital in KwaZulu Natal and St. Lucys Hospital Tsolo in the Eastern Cape.

At Paarl Hospital, Franke is supplying a range of products from surgeon scrub-up units to drinking fountains valued at R1.3-million over three years.

At King VI Hospital, Franke is supplying an assortment of sinks, baths and troughs at a total of R926 000 over a 24-month period.

Finally, at St. Lucys Hospital Tsolo, Franke is supplying an extensive range of products, from toilet roll holders and urinals to a variety of sinks valued at R1.6-million over three years.

In addition to these projects, Franke also landed two government hospital pharmacy contracts: the Leratong Hospital Pharmacy and the Heidelberg Hospital Pharmacy. In both cases Franke is fitting wall benches and pot sinks to the value of R350 000. The units were installed at Leratong Hospital Pharmacy in July and are due to be fitted at Heidelberg Hospital Pharmacy in mid-September.

Franke was also recently involved in outfitting a new, private facility – the Netcare Blauwberg Hospital. This upmarket hospital opened its doors in March 2007 and offers a range of medical and surgical facilities.

As with the government hospital contracts, Franke supplied a wide range of products from soap dispensers to instrument disinfection units at a value of R1-million in a project estimated to be worth R480-million. This project was completed shortly before the hospital opened.

Franke's Washroom and Sanitary Systems (WS) division features an all-encompassing product range developed to offer intelligent solutions to water saving and hygiene. The designer ranges are functional and durable, and aimed at the public, semi-public, business and commercial sectors.

The WS stainless steel ranges cover a broad spectrum of needs, including hand basins, shower trays and toilet pans, sinks for commercial and industrial applications, and bathroom accessories such as waste bins and dispensers for paper towels and soaps.

Zip Hydroboils, Water Chillers as well as, Franke Mixers, Taps and Valves form an integral part of the WS offering and bring to the industry innovative water saving and hygiene solutions.

Franke also supplies hospitals and nursing homes with the Deko range of automatic bedpan or instrument washing and thermal disinfection machines – ideal for washing and drying medical equipment. These water- and energy-efficient units were recently showcased at the 2007 South African Theatre Sisters (SATS) Congress where they garnered much industry interest.