Gauteng-based Vitrex is a management-owned business that specialises in the design, manufacture, supply and installation of vitreous enamel steel architectural products for the building and construction industries.

The company, which is housed in self-owned offices and a 7 200 m2 factory at 9 Jansen road, in Jet Park, east of Johannesburg, has been in operation since 1983 and currently employs 125 people.

The main equipment in the factory includes computer numerically controlled fabrication equipment, welding facilities, a specialised enamelling furnace, enamel milling facilities, a semi-automated lamination line and an in-house laboratory for development, colour matching, quality control and test purposes.

The company’s product line includes purpose-made and engineered elements, such as architectural cladding, enamel signs and cloakroom cubicles, as well as commodity-type items like baths and shower trays, chalk boards, white writing boards and pin boards.

Vitrex operations in South Africa are ISO 9001-certified and meet the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, with the company currently working towards ISO 18001 certification.

Vitrex is also working towards ISO 14001 certification for quality management. It already complies with several standards specified for some of its products.

The company’s recent export contracts included wall cladding for Muscat International Airport, in Oman, and various underground train stations and schools in the UK. Local cladding projects were under- taken for the Bridge City rail station, the Medupi power station, the Sandton City Protea Court hotel and banking group Absa’s Clearwater Mall. Cloakroom cubicles were supplied to the University of the Witwatersrand’s Health Science building, petrochemicals company Sasol, the SciBono Discovery Centre, the Department of Transport and retail chain Woolworths.