Keeping the Skies in Focus: Fastenright and the MeerKAT Radio Telescope
If you have ever seen images of the MeerKAT radio telescope near Carnarvon in the Northern Cape, you will know it looks like something out of a sci-fi film. Dozens of dishes, perfectly aligned, scanning the universe for signals from deep space. It is one of South Africa’s proudest engineering achievements. But here is something most people never contemplate.
What keeps it all together?
The bolts, nuts, and screws. Cape Town-based Fastenright supplied the high-quality stainless steel fasteners used on the MeerKAT project. Small components, but absolutely critical. When you are working with sensitive instrumentation in harsh environments, there is no room for compromise. The wrong material, a poor fit, or early failure can lead to delays, costly rework, or worse. That is where reliability matters most. Fastenright carries over 10,000 product types across four warehouses, with a fifth currently under construction.
Why does that matter?
Because on large-scale projects, availability is everything. When teams are on site and timelines are tight, waiting weeks for stock is simply not an option. According to Managing Director Rainer Lutz, the company’s growth has always been driven by a clear focus:
“We aimed to become the supplier people rely on when the job cannot afford mistakes. Understanding what engineers need and backing that up with stock and service made all the difference.”
It is this approach that has enabled Fastenright to support landmark projects like MeerKAT.
Built for Karoo conditions
MeerKAT consists of 64 dishes, each requiring thousands of fasteners to remain stable and precise.
And the Karoo is no easy environment:
Extreme temperature changes
Strong winds
Persistent dust
Fastenright supplied corrosion-resistant A4 (316) stainless steel fasteners, chosen for their durability and long-term performance in these demanding conditions.
These fasteners are not only used on the dishes, but across the entire site—from control buildings to mounting structures and mechanical systems.
When everything must stay aligned and perform year after year, there is no room for second-guessing.
More than standard stainless steel
Fastenright’s offering goes beyond standard A2 and A4 materials. The company also supplies higher-performance grades such as:
A4-80 (High-tensile)
Duplex 2205
904L (acid-resistant)
By keeping key sizes available ex-stock, Fastenright ensures rapid response when projects demand speed and precision. Looking ahead, Fastenright continues to support advanced engineering sectors, including renewable energy and other high-tech industries where reliability is non-negotiable.
For Lutz, MeerKAT is a powerful reminder:
“Big achievements are held together by small details. Fasteners might be overlooked, but they are essential. When they are right, everything else runs safely, smoothly, and for the long term.”
At Fastenright, we don’t just supply fasteners. We help hold world-class projects together.