John Thompson, a division of ACTOM and a leading South African manufacturer of industrial boilers and energy solutions, has secured a significant new order from a major industrial company in Indonesia for a 320-tonne-per-hour Bagasse fired boiler.
This marks the company’s fourth order from the Indonesian client in recent months and represents the largest industrial water‑tube boiler ever built at John Thompson’s Cape Town facility.
Quintus Engelbrecht, Business Development Manager at John Thompson, says the continued confidence shown by the client reflects the strength of the partnership and the company’s proven capability in delivering large‑scale, high‑performance boiler technology.
“We are extremely proud as South Africans to be entrusted with building one of the largest industrial boilers of its kind anywhere in the world. This order is a tremendous milestone for John Thompson and a clear endorsement of our technology, our quality and our commitment to our customers,” he says.
World’s biggest greenfield sugar mill development
The new boiler will support the second phase of what is set to become the world’s largest greenfield sugar mill development. The mill is designed to process up to 40 000 tonnes of cane per day across two crushing lines.
The remote location and scale of the plant require exceptionally robust engineering, advanced combustion technology and high‑efficiency performance – areas in which John Thompson has decades of specialised expertise.
“Very few companies globally have the in‑house engineering capability to design and manufacture a boiler of this magnitude. Most competitors rely on licensed designs, but our technology is entirely our own. This bespoke boiler has been engineered from the ground up using advanced computational fluid dynamics to optimise combustion, heat transfer, and overall efficiency,” Engelbrecht explains.
Fully self‑sufficient energy island
The plant will operate as a fully self‑sufficient energy island, generating its own electricity from bagasse – the fibrous by‑product of sugar cane. Excess power will be supplied to nearby communities, displacing diesel generation and supporting Indonesia’s broader sustainability and energy‑security goals.
“This project is designed to be as efficient and environmentally responsible as possible. It will contribute meaningfully to Indonesia’s sugar supply while also generating green energy for the region,” Engelbrecht notes.
The order also brings substantial benefits to South Africa’s manufacturing sector. “These large‑scale projects keep our heavy‑engineering factory running and support jobs across our supply chain,” says Engelbrecht.
“They allow us to train young artisans, sustain local industry, and demonstrate that South African engineering can compete with, and outperform, low‑cost international manufacturers.”
Partnership set to deepen
As the project advances, John Thompson expects the partnership to deepen. The company will provide long‑term service support, extended warranties and ongoing maintenance expertise to ensure optimal performance over the plant’s lifetime.
“We don’t just deliver equipment and walk away. Our commitment is long‑term, and this project is likely just the beginning of a broader collaboration,” Engelbrecht emphasises.
“Competition in this industry is tough, but this achievement proves that when you buy from John Thompson, you’re buying the Rolls‑Royce of industrial boilers – the best bet for greenfield projects where reliability is non-negotiable.”