Colossal Concrete Products
Products, a Level 1 B-BBEE company and the largest manufacturer of railway sleepers in Southern Africa, reopened its mothballed De Aar factory in October.
This follows the recent conclusion of a one-year contract with Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) to supply precast concrete railway sleepers for the parastatal's national freight rail network upgrade.
The De Aar facility is strategically located in the Northern Cape, near one of the arterial railway junctions connecting the Cape Town, Johannesburg and Kimberley lines and has a output capacity of over 1 million railway sleepers per annum.
Parallel tracks of growth and development
This contract paves the way for growth in South Africa and beyond, according to CEO Gwen Mahuma-Madida.
The company has grown substantially over the past two years, taking over from a listed entity and entrenching its own culture, while maintaining a sound client base and expanding its market share locally and cross-border.
This followed the June 2021 acquisition by a consortium made up of Colossal Africa Group, Mafoko Holdings, Clone Capital and Randvest Capital - of Aveng Infraset's Brakpan and De Aar facilities for their rail, telecommunications, civil engineering and specialized precast concrete manufacturing capabilities and intellectual property.
Mahuma-Madida says although the De Aar facility had been mothballed prior to the 2021 acquisition, its potential was always De Aar, like many areas in the Northern Cape, has been economically depressed in recent years. We are collaborating closely with the local mayor and municipal manager, who are excited about the plant reopening," says Executive Director Chris 'CK' Klagsbrun.
Colossal Concrete Products is recognized internationally as one of the world's most innovative, diverse concrete sleeper producers, with an experienced research and development division, having developed over 40 rail-related products. Colossal manufactures other precast concrete products including culverts, poles and masts, for use in the mining, civil engineering, construction and renewable energy sectors. There are plans to manufacture wind turbine towers too.