Kraatz Engineering, a subsidiary of the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group, which specialises in engineering services for marine, offshore mining, fabrication and heavy machine equipment, has handed over a scrum machine worth N$25 000 to Western Suburbs Rugby Club.
The scrum machine, aptly named ‘Kraatzie’ was custom-designed by the Kraatz team to avoid injury by broadening the base plates and other modifications and was fabricated using steel weighing approximately 230kg. It has an overall length of 3.07m and width of 1.515m.
Jacques de Langen, project manager of Kraatz, said the whole Kraatz team supported this initiative, adding that it was not only a fun challenge but also a feel-good one, as it is a project that gives back to the community.
“Rugby is part of our community and it is a sports activity that even our employees engage in during their
free time. Being able to deliver this quality scrum machine is not just a feather in our cap, but a testimony to the quality fabrication Kraatz commits to in our promise to our clients. It speaks to the O&L Group purpose of ‘Creating a future, enhancing life’ and how the little we do here can go a long way for the club and the players,” he said.
Meanwhile, Keith Allies, president of Western Suburbs, on behalf of Western Suburbs Rugby Club, thanked Kraatz and O&L for the sponsorship and the team who started working on this project during their holidays when everything was closed.
“That shows your commitment not only to Kraatz and O&L, but to the community. This scrum machine is not just a scrum machine – it is a work of art. The previous machine carried us for almost 20 years, but techniques have changed, and so must we.” “This new machine will help us in all areas of the
game. This sponsorship means a lot to the club, and we are grateful and happy to receive ‘Kraatzie’ as our new scrumming partner. This is by no means a small feat with many Namibian players hailing from local clubs such as Western Suburbs, a club situated in the heart of the Khomasdal community of Windhoek.”