| Pinetown-based Beier Industries (Pty) Ltd is | | | | superbly.” |
| something of a South African success story, to | | | | The final division, MacBean Beier Plastics isn’t |
| put it mildly. The third-generation company, which | | | | fairing so well, for the moment at least. The |
| celebrates 80 years in business later this year, is | | | | reason for that is that its main clients operate in |
| not only one of the country’s oldest and | | | | the automotive industry – an industry hit hard |
| most innovative industrialists, it is still enjoying | | | | by a global recession. “MacBean Beier Plastics |
| growth. | | | | was formed through the integration of Erez |
| “Our facility is based 15km from Durban; | | | | Thermoplastics of Israel and Beier Industries and |
| South Africa’s industrial heartland,” says | | | | it is a joint venture capable of producing the |
| Hans Beier, the firm’s CEO. “We are a | | | | widest and most diverse range of coated PVC |
| very diverse, innovative group, which is enjoying | | | | products, serving the automotive industry |
| growth, even in the downturn. We operate three | | | | mostly,” says Hans. “However, in keeping |
| companies, in interrelated, but slightly different | | | | with our quest for growth and diversification, it |
| fields, called Beier Safety Footwear, Beier Albany | | | | also supplies the mining, transport and furniture |
| and MacBean Beier Plastics. | | | | industries worldwide.” |
| “Let me explain more about what each | | | | Superb technology and continuous product |
| does,” he adds. “Our footwear company - | | | | development are cornerstones of this division, |
| Beier Safety Footwear - manufacturers a range | | | | much like the other Beier Group members. |
| of safety shoes and boots, heat resistant | | | | “Each segment produces quality products that |
| footwear, police and military footwear and | | | | consistently meet the demanding requirements of |
| security and militarily canvas footwear; MacBean | | | | our customers,” Hans says. |
| Beier Plastics - a manufacturer of coated fabrics - | | | | He adds: “With the niche markets we are in, |
| produces PVC/PU coated fabrics, PVC Tarpaulin | | | | we are not affected as badly by the recession as |
| fabrics and PVC fabrics for the automotive | | | | some South Africans are. South Africa has been |
| industry; and Albany produces technical textiles, | | | | pretty lucky in comparison with the rest of the |
| specialised media and filtration products. It is a | | | | world, but it is now feeling the pinch the |
| diverse offering.” | | | | manufacturing industry has been hit pretty hard. |
| Formed in 1929, the Beier Group has grown from | | | | “We are still making profits though and think |
| small beginnings. “It all started when my | | | | the future, as far as we are concerned, because |
| father O.T.H. Beier, a young pioneer, left Germany | | | | of the niche markets we are in, is very good and |
| against the wishes of his family and established | | | | we are heavily involved in export and we want to |
| himself in Durban as a wool merchant,” says | | | | get more export,” Hans continues. “We |
| Hans. “He later received an offer to work | | | | want around 30 percent of our production to go |
| with Storm and Company to manage their | | | | into the export market starting from Angola, |
| scouring plant, and accepted. He later bought that | | | | Mozambique, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and all those |
| plant and we have never looked back.” | | | | countries and we are very heavily involved at the |
| O.T.H, like his son and now his grandson, | | | | moment. I must say the export business has |
| Wolfgang, recognised the vast potential for | | | | grown from zero three years ago to 12-13 |
| industrial development in South Africa and set off | | | | percent now. But our aim is to get to 25-30 |
| on a journey of diversification and expansion – | | | | percent.” |
| a journey that leads us to today. “We | | | | He believes this target is both realistic and |
| continue that tradition of innovation, diversification | | | | achievable. Why? Well the company, remember, |
| and expansion,” Hans explains. | | | | has a history of innovation and a knack for |
| ALL SYSTEMS GO | | | | developing products the market needs. “I |
| Things are going pretty well for Beier Industries | | | | think that is one of the reasons why we are still |
| at the moment, as you would expect from such | | | | one of the firms in this area still running well and |
| a diverse company. “When you have three | | | | we haven’t had to retrench anybody at this |
| cylinders, two usually fire quite well and the other | | | | stage,” says Hans. “We have been pretty |
| hangs around a little bit,” says Hans. “For | | | | lucky and we are an innovative company bringing |
| the last three or four years we have established | | | | out new products continuously and that has kept |
| a niche in the market and we tend to specialise | | | | our heads above water. |
| and find niche markets rather than the run of the | | | | “Moving forwards, the environmental market |
| mill. | | | | – demand for filtration in particular – is |
| “When it comes to the footwear industry for | | | | huge and we are excited by how that market will |
| instance, we are today the largest safety | | | | develop,” he adds. “In response to what |
| footwear manufacturer in the country and we | | | | we see as huge demand, we are looking to move |
| think we are very innovative and that has kept | | | | upstream in that industry and become more than |
| us going,” he continues. “Most of our | | | | just a supplier.” |
| competitors are looking for work and we are | | | | At 73, Hans has no plans to retire just yet and, |
| running six days a week, 24 hours a day, and | | | | although his son is controlling the firm, he is |
| have order books right up until the end of | | | | “glad to help out” for as long as he can. |
| October. | | | | “There is great demand for all of our |
| “For example, Albany supplies the big power | | | | products in South Africa and the African |
| utility companies here,” says Hans. “We | | | | continent, short- and long-term,” he explains. |
| have basically got all the filtration business from | | | | “We are a success because we put service |
| the South African electrical utility companies and | | | | and quality above all else, even price. Price is a |
| then of course Sasol and some manganese | | | | factor, but we will not compromise on our |
| companies as well. So that segment is doing | | | | principles. |