AFROX

About Afrox

Afrox, short for African Oxygen Limited, is one of the best-known industrial gas companies in Southern Africa. It started in 1927 as Allen-Liversidge Industrial Gases. British Oxygen took a controlling stake in 1935, and the company listed on the stock exchange in 1963. Today Afrox forms part of the Linde group, a global gas and engineering business. Its South African office sits in Johannesburg.

The company makes and distributes oxygen, acetylene, argon, nitrogen and other industrial and specialty gases. It also sells welding consumables and equipment, healthcare gases, LPG products, industrial chemicals and protective gear. Its customers include hospitals, mines, factories, food producers and workshops. Afrox operates in several African countries, so skilled technical people matter across its network.

How Afrox supports students and trainees

Afrox has a record of backing engineering education. Reported bursary details point to full-time students in mechanical, chemical, industrial and metallurgical engineering. These fields match the company's plants, supply chains and maintenance work. The bursary has been described as covering study costs such as fees, books and residence, with the award running for one year and renewable.

Renewal has depended on good results and on vacation work during the holidays. In practice, this lets a student see a real workplace early. For instance, a metallurgical or mechanical student could learn how a gas plant runs while still at university. That experience helps when applying for a graduate job.

Beyond university funding, Afrox invests in practical skills. It has put money and expertise into welding training in the Coega Industrial Development Zone in the Eastern Cape. This included welding and gas equipment worth about R1 million for a schools and tertiary welding programme. The company has also advertised business administration learnerships. As a result, Afrox supports both degree-level and trade-level careers.

Healthcare is a good example of why the work matters. Hospitals rely on medical oxygen and other gases every day. Engineers who keep production, safe handling and delivery running therefore play a real part in patient care, not only in heavy industry.

What to know before applying

Bursary details can change from year to year, and some published summaries are dated. Therefore, treat third-party listings with care. The company's careers pages are the place to confirm whether bursaries, learnerships or vacation work are open.

Past criteria mentioned South African citizenship, a matric pass with strong mathematics and science, good academic results and financial need. Applicants from groups that were historically disadvantaged have received preference. Also prepare certified copies of your results and ID, and a motivation that explains your interest in the gas and welding industry. Whether a work-back period applies is not confirmed, so ask the company before you accept any offer.