The Jasco Group restructured in mid 2011, reorganising all group companies and interests into three solutions verticals – Information and Communication Technologies, Industry and Energy – to better focus the company’s growth strategy. As part of this formal restructure, a new company, LeBLANC Jasco, has been created to house two companies within the Jasco Carrier Infrastructure division. These companies are LeBLANC Lighting Structures and WebbLeBLANC, created through Jasco’s longstanding partnership with the global LeBLANC Group.

Lighting Structures manufactures monopole type steel masts for lighting, and WebbLeBLANC designs, manufactures and constructs masts and towers for the communications industry ranging from six meters up to 200 meters. Both companies also have a projects and services division which offers turnkey site build services such as civil works, mast erection, electrical reticulation and RF installations. These companies, although servicing different industries, share a sizable manufacturing facility in Gauteng, a pool of highly skilled engineering and technical resources, and are both locally managed by LeBLANC Jasco. Both also rely on the global supply chain, networks, facilities and IP of the LeBLANC Group, a telecoms infrastructure and managed services group with a presence in 40 countries.

Explains Francois van Zyl, Divisional MD of Jasco Carrier Infrastructure: “Jasco has the controlling shares in both Lighting Structures and WebbLeBLANC. Our association with LeBLANC gives us access to its very valuable IP and established networks. However, Jasco retains full management control of the two companies, and ownership of all operations in Africa. LeBLANC, in effect, is an investor and shareholder.”

In terms of the operations of both Lighting Structures and WebbLeBLANC, it’s business as usual. “This is merely a formalisation of the relationship between LeBLANC and Jasco in terms of control and management responsibilities across the two local companies. In real terms it in fact in no way changes the leadership or how the companies have been managed in the past,” notes Van Zyl. “With the new name we hope to simplify and clarify the relationship for clients and investors.”

LeBLANC Jasco, as a company, is an important component of Jasco’s growth strategy, with Lighting Structures already dominating the local and African markets in the supply of lighting infrastructure, and WebbLeBLANC setting itself to take advantage of the continued opportunity the local and African telecoms infrastructure markets offer.

Notes Van Zyl: “The Jasco Group’s ‘inspire, innovate’ philosophy and vision of growth and expansion is very much a part of who we are and what we do at LeBLANC Jasco. We have recently made a significant investment into our manufacturing facility to cater to growing demand and facilitate our move into Africa. Our differentiation is that we don’t just offer a product – we have the engineering, design, commissioning and maintenance skills (and capacity) to offer end-to-end lighting and telecoms infrastructure solutions that deliver real value. With the proven IP of the LeBLANC group and its established global supply chain, we have an added advantage over our competitors.”

LeBLANC Jasco falls into the Industry Solutions vertical within Jasco, with WebbLeBLANC also having a presence in Jasco’s ICT Solutions vertical where it has significant marketing and sales synergies with Jasco’s Carrier Networks.

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