Stabila measuring tools are well-known in the global construction industry for their precision, long life, and high quality. These premium German products are distributed locally by Upat SA (Pty) Ltd.

Upat National Product Specialist Charl Weber comments that construction industry professionals know that when they select Stabila, that their measurements will always be correct. “If measurements are incorrect from the outset of a project, the consequences can be disastrous,” he warns.

For example, when assessing an elevator shaft installation, there are a number of factors that need to be taken into account. An installation evaluation is a very time-consuming process, particularly in situations where an existing elevator installation requires modernisation.

The evaluation must include assessments of the verticality of elevator shaft walls, the squareness of the shaft cross-section, the alignment of door openings, their dimensions, and the level of doors on opposite sides of the shaft, and the alignment of installed guide rails.

Weber notes that, in addition to the safety concerns relating to imprecise measurements, are the cost implications associated with rework. “If measurements are not aligned properly, there can be heavy cost implications in order to rectify this.”

Upat has specialised direct sales personnel that market Stabila products to the Southern African construction sector, including construction companies, engineers, plumbers, electricians, drywalling installers, steel fabricators, carpenters, shopfront fitters, and cladding manufacturers, among others.

This has assisted greatly in raising the brand awareness of Stabila across the industry. The company focuses on more specialised measurement tools, as well as entry-level spirit levels used mainly in DIY applications.

Moreover, Weber believes there are “great opportunities” to grow Stabila’s market share in more advanced measurement tools in the rest of Africa, which is experiencing moderate to high growth. This includes countries such as Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and potentially even Zimbabwe.

Upat, through its distribution partners in Africa, has seen a marked increase in sales into the rest of the continent. “In addition, we foresee that Stabila’s market share will grow eve further throughout South Africa, especially in industry-specific items such as lasers and distance measurers,” Weber concludes.