LUKAS-ERZETT: Out and about in the city and on the plains

Cutting and grinding discs assist in the repair and conversion of important means of transportation

They are thin, they are round, they inspire with their high resilience and long tool life – and they perform important work worldwide in very different tasks and areas of everyday life: cutting and grinding discs from LUKAS-ERZETT. The fields of application for these cutting and grinding discs are just as diverse as the user industries. On safari and in the city – for jeeps and buses this always means a severe stress test, which is accompanied and supported by LUKAS cutting and grinding discs during conversion and repair work.

South Africa – fit for the safari

South Africa is famous and popular for its safaris on which visitors can experience the lush nature, unique cultural history and large herds of wild animals, including the “Big Five”. Jeep safaris are today an integral part of the holiday plans of tourists to South Africa and have become firmly embedded in the country’s holiday programme. Safari jeeps are the ideal means of transportation for getting as close as possible to the wildlife. Established near Johannesburg back in 1988, Parker Performance specialises in all-in-one solutions for full conversions of safari jeeps. This also includes professional customisations and modifications of Land Rovers, Land Cruisers and Ford Rangers. The converted off-road vehicles can accommodate up to 11 people, allowing tourists to enjoy a thrilling safari in southern Africa and in South Africa itself. Around 100 safari jeeps are converted every year, among them older vehicles that are given a total refurbishment before being returned to their lodges.

This requires extensive welding and cutting work, which alters the entire frame of the vehicle. In over 30 years, Cliff Barker and his son Sean have accumulated a wealth of expertise. For a full conversion, the entire frame of the jeep is cut open and adapted. LUKAS has been supporting this frame work for many years with its steel cutting disc for processing non-rusting steel. The specialists in South Africa also use LUKAS Inox cutting discs when working with thin non-rusting steel, such as for manufacturing the hinges for the window frame. These handheld cutting discs with a very fine grit size allow high cutting speeds at a low temperature and have extremely low odour and dust emissions. With their innovative bonding technology, they deliver maximum tool life and cutting performance. To make sure that the rotating cutting discs are not damaged at high speeds and causing damage to the workpiece in turn, they are reinforced with fabric inserts and are extremely flexible thanks to the particularly elastic resin bond. This flexibility allows for manual and free-handed cutting of metals, such as when converting safari jeeps. “For 10 years, LUKAS-ERZETT has been our partner with its cutting and grinding discs. Barker Performance is an all-round design, workshop and servicing firm, and appreciates the high reliability of our cutting discs,” sums up Isabell Noll, Managing Director at LUKAS and former branch manager in South Africa.

France – reliable travel by bus around Paris

City buses are exposed to high levels of wear and tear. A lot of traffic, minor to major accidents, and large numbers of tourist and resident passengers create a huge strain. Repairs are frequently needed to get the buses back on the road and maintain regular services. For Paris, a city with millions of inhabitants and visitors, every operational bus is crucial. This means that the buses cannot stay for long in the workshop of a state-owned Parisian bus operator. Fast repairs to structural steel parts that have been badly deformed in accidents, using robust and high-quality tools, are the order of the day here. Following a six-month test procedure, which included testing for durability, safety, dust and noise development and smooth cuts, LUKAS cutting discs prevailed over other tools. “Our customer has been buying cutting discs from LUKAS for five years now,” says Joost van Hauwermeiren, LUKAS representative for the Benelux region. “They were convinced by the best price to performance ratio and the outstanding service with fast and punctual one-stop delivery.”