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Paint & Ladders Corporate Profile
The 1960s was a period of dramatic economic growth for South Africa, with many new technologies and opportunities being created. The company Castor & Ladder (Pty) Ltd was founded during this period in order to service the emerging light materials handling and access markets. The product range of that time was as diverse as: ladders, scaffolding, trolleys, conveyors, storage, pallet trucks, wheels and castors. The company rapidly became the dominant national force in these two different industries and supplied a classic model for the development of synergy across a broad range of supply.
Castor & Ladder subsequently passed through several groups of shareholders, ranging from larger corporates to smaller privately-owned groups, before being taken over in a management buyout by the current senior management team in early 1997. It was not very long before this new team recognised the opportunity for supply-sided synergy that existed within the national retail and hardware industries. Although Castor & Ladder also services a strong industrial customer base, the retail opportunities were compelling.
Within two years, specific strategic acquisitions were made, including Aldek & Kedla which supplied a comprehensive range of ladders, curtain suspension, aluminium products, castor packs and brushware; the paint manufacturing interests of Associated Paint and Chemical Industries which had as its primary brands Cedar Radex and Vadek; and three other minor paint companies. All these operations and their brands were then incorporated into one holding company named Paint & Ladders (Pty) Ltd.
There ensued a short but troublesome period in the life of the company, during which the rationalisation of operation, products and brands took place. Several manufacturing plants were moved and merged into each other. A number of depots were relocated or closed and distribution centers were combined throughout the country. Other than in the industrial division, all direct sales outlets were closed so as to prohibit competition with loyal distributors. Of particular note has been the implementation of a policy to upgrade the quality of staff throughout the company. This has resulted in a well-run national infrastructure which includes the following facilities:
Three paint factories, one each in Silverton (Pretoria), Redhill (Durban) and Paarden Eiland (Cape Town). One metal working production plant in Koedoespoort (Pretoria), manufacturing ladders, scaffolding, curtain suspension, conveyor components, aluminium products and peripherals.
Distribution depots in Pretoria (two), Durban, Klerksdorp, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, industrial sales outlets in East Rand, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Richards Bay, Pietermaritzburg, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. The group Head Office and centralised administration is based in Spartan, Kempton Park.
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Cedar Vadek: Decorative
paint and coating products |
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Albestra: Industrial
paint products |
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Mastercoat: Wood and
floor coatings |
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Forlezer: Ladders,
scaffolding |
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Aldek: Domestic ladders
and scaffolding |
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Kedla: Curtain
suspension, castor packs, brushware, aluminium
extrusions, straight edges and
trolleys |
With the finalisation of this period of consolidation, the company has now entered a new phase. An increasing focus on customer service and product quality has resulted in a surge in volumes and popularity, resulting in Paint & Ladders claiming its rightful place as the most broad-based and diverse supplier of products within the hardware and DIY industries in South Africa.
Ultimately, we have perfected product synergy!
Roy Fouché
Managing Director