Year of Formation and Background to Founding:
Thomas Begbie & Sons was formed in the year 1887 in Johannesburg. A foundry and engineering business thrived there until the South African War saw the plant put out of action by the British troops in about 1902. Paul Kruger had annexed the company to manufacture ammunition and weapons for the Transvaal Republic. The British then banished Thomas Begbie to a site 100 miles east of Johannesburg. The company was then renamed Thos Begbie & Co and his sons took a more active role in running the business. They operated near the Middelburg station for another 50 years and then moved to the existing site in Middelburg Industrial sites, next to Columbus Stainless Steel. A management buy-out took place in 2000 and the previous management team owned and ran the business for another seven years, adopting a copper foundry operation supported by a heavy engineering business. During 2007, another change in shareholding resulted in Thos Begbie & Co being 70% owned by offshore investors and the balance owned by three South African entities.
Company Mission, Products & Services:
The mission of the company has always been to first create wealth for the staff; in the form of a safe and pleasant working environment and job security. The company has never had to retrench employees, and even in the period of COVID-19, although at a reduced rate, continuity of employment was assured.
Next to safety and quality, servicing the client’s every need is the main mission of every employee, not only management. TB & Co has the privilege of supplying most smelters around the world with their critical furnace components, both new and refurbished. The range of products include the manufacture of water-cooled copper furnace elements as well as the graphite refractory components used to line furnace shells, launders and tapping holes etc.
Current Shareholders:
A staff trust holds 10% of the equity, while two South African trusts hold 20% of the local shareholding. Seventy per cent of the equity is held offshore by foreign investors.
Number of People Employed:
Currently, 170 people are permanently employed at the Middelburg site.
Greatest Corporate Achievement:
Possibly the greatest corporate achievement is retaining a core of ever-growing intellectual property in people as well as having the privilege of keeping a nucleus of customers who have supported TB & Co for many decades with repeat business.
Hope for the Future:
South Africa has more strategic mineral resources than most countries on the planet. In addition, it has intellectual property that is respected world-wide and adding the two, results in having the potential to become the greatest economy in Africa. Most causes for current instability in South Africa are geo-political in nature and solutions are being found as time goes on. We trust in a sound and competent governing structure that has to work together to manage the valuable assets that is our heritage.