Delivering on industrialisation, transformation and development
SOUTH AFRICA is experiencing a period of great opportunity and the Beier Group is an eager and successful participant in the journey to achieving meaningful transformation, according to chairman Paulos Ngcobo.
He adds, “Success often has humble beginnings and for us this rings true. In 1929, young German immigrant OTH Beier bade his homeland farewell and zealously set off on his own in pursuit of discovering new opportunities in Africa.
“Fast forward to today. Following significant growth and transformation, the Beier Group celebrates a black shareholding of 51.25 percent, alongside a third generation Beier son.
“The unique amalgamation of truly empowered black ownership and three generations of German technical expertise has shaped the group into the African manufacturing force we know today.”
Ngcobo speaks proudly of a wide range of customers, including the State-Owned Enterprises Eskom and Transnet and as well as a commitment to local manufacturing.
There are four manufacturing operations based in in Durban, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg. They employ more than 2000 people including a number who are otherwise- abled.
They are mostly hearing-impaired and, acknowledging that they have unique practical and safety requirements in the workplace, Ngcobo explains, “We have invested close to R1.8 million to adapt our factory and to provide reasonable accommodation and training opportunities to ensure they reach their full potential in the workplace.”
The BBF Safety Group is the largest manufacturer of safety footwear and specialised personal protective equipment in the country.
“It”, says Ngcobo, “offers our customers an innovative, holistic employee personal safety solution second to none, with popular brands such as Bova, Lemaitre, Frams, Wayne, Fuel and Sisi.”
Beier Envirotec specialises in the local production of engineered and environmental textiles.
In line with a commitment to reduce the pressures placed on the environment, its robust filtration products are used by heavy industries, mines, smelters and power stations, to ensure clean air.
Neucoat, a PVC and PU coating plant, utilises cutting-edge technology to produce an extensive range of PVC materials such as tarpaulins, grain covers and dam liners, as well as PU products like automotive vinyl, upholstery material and the very popular nomadic stretch tent seen at events all over the country.
Beier Drawtex Healthcare, a South African medical device company, manufactures and owns the advanced hydroconductive wound care dressings registered under the Drawtex® patent. It is both CE and FDA registered and sold in Europe, the USA and China.
Mike Maziya, a Beier shareholder, says, “Acknowledging that our responsibility towards true transformation doesn’t stop at our front door, we proactively establish and support local SMME’s and embody them as part of our value chain.
“We care about the advancement of small, medium and micro-sized enterprises and consider ourselves a catalyst of economic growth and development in South Africa.”
He explains, “We believe in South Africans and the quality of home-grown textiles. As such, we source our wool from an Eastern Cape SMME owned by a black woman.
“Multiple components of our day-to-day business are also outsourced to black, often womanowned, SMME’s.
“This includes the sewing of woven polypropylene bags in which Beier Envirotec filter bags are packed, as well as the manufacturing of components and uppers for our branded safety footwear.”
All stakeholders have realised significant benefits, including job creation, localisation, as well as an improved supply chain.
Ngcobo views this as another example of Beier’s transformation talent and adds, “Over the past eight decades the group has gone from strength to strength.
“Firmly believing diversity is a driver of innovation, we eagerly embarked on a journey that began in 2004 with an initial black shareholding of 26 percent. By 2015 it had grown to the current 51.25 percent.
“We are proud to be an example of how BBBEE can be successful and sustainable in the South African manufacturing environment.
“Beier operates by the ethos that true transformation requires the total commitment of all of the parties involved and must be based on shared values and the willingness to build a synergistic whole, which is greater and more powerful than simply the sum of all parts.
“This outlook has reaped many benefits for multiple parties beyond our expectations and fuels our fire to continue to do more together.”
Addressing community impact, he comments, “We always see people as more and continually invest in our employees."
As part of a R3 million study and skills development initiative Beier has awarded bursaries to black female students.
Their studies are aligned with the group's succession planning, thereby offering them a career, not simply a job, on completion of their studies.
He posits that by empowering third-party enterprises capable of supplying Beier products to the market, the group essentially empowers itself.
“We dedicate significant resources and expertise to mentor these businesses, who in turn take both their business and ours to new heights.”
Because the company understands the magnitude of its responsibility to the learners, parents and the community at large, it has partnered with Sithokozile Secondary School, located in KwaDabeka Township, west of Durban.
The Beier Group, school personnel and the PPR Education Trust work together to encourage academic excellence – specifically in Mathematics and Science.
This is balanced with a comprehensive life skills programme that helps learners cope with their daily challenges, while enabling them to recognise future opportunities.
He adds, “Realising the importance of encouraging strategic thinking, we have established the Beier Group Chess and School’s Programme at the school. It has impressively seen six learners progress through to compete in the National Chess Championships in Gauteng.
The chairman concludes, “Considering our people, our value chain and community involvement, we believe that we have already become a success story of empowered shareholding, black industrialisation and economic transformation.
“Having said this, we realise that our job is not yet done and we remain committed to leading by example in the South African manufacturing industry.”