Built from start-up, BT Industrial – a new-generation, black-owned, high-energy business driven by innovation, international standards, and service excellence – is transforming the industrial landscape both in South Africa and on the continent.

The company has made a significant investment in its state-of-the-art HDPE pipe manufacturing facility in Roodekop, Germiston. When questioned as to why the focus on HDPE pipes, BT Industrial Founder and Managing Director Kgomotso Lekola explains that “pipes are a fundamental driver of industrialisation.”

He adds: “I wanted to build a business that will play a meaningful role in rebuilding my country, and contribute as best I can in driving our national agenda. BT Industrial will achieve this vision by harnessing the most efficient production capacity possible, and offering its clients fit-for-purpose solutions.”

David Noko, an independent non-executive director of African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), comments that Lekola has his sights set firmly on the future. “That is exactly what inspired me when I met Kgomotso. Of course, when he showed me what he is doing, it is also very close to my heart.” Noko’s career to date has included a stint in the design engineering and maintenance department of Alstom, the former GEC, while he was also former MD of De Beers Consolidated Mines.

While regional and global business conditions remain constrained, Noko highlights that BT Industrial’s SABS certification is an important stamp of approval. “It is clearly on the right track, and can now focus on aggressively marketing its products and services into Africa.”

“While step changes in engineering are rare, what differentiates a new player like BT Industrial in a very competitive market is how it has embraced both innovation and technology. It is determined to set a new benchmark in the HDPE pipe segment, and is well on the way to achieving this.”

Noko also lauds BT Industrial’s strategy of securing its foothold in the South African market before tackling the rest of Africa, which requires extra flexibility in being able to adapt to different market conditions and customer requirements.

“The continent needs infrastructure development, and is just waiting for companies like BT Industrial to take up the reigns. The fact that it is 100% black owned and managed, and is a genuine from-the-ground start-up, places it on a trajectory towards considerable success in this regard,” Noko asserts.

Lekola reveals that BT Industrial conforms to the local content requirement of the new Mining Charter, meaning that every R1 spend translates into in a R1.28 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) benefit for its mining clients. “Our clients cite this as being crucial for their own B-BBEE scores,” he adds.

BT Industrial recently received a prestigious CEO Circle Entrepreneurs 2019 Award, awarded by a panel consisting of Discovery CEO Adrian Gore as Chairman, Investec CEO Fani Titi, Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub, and Sasol CEO Bongani Ngqababa. It was selected as one of seven medium-sized black owned and managed businesses, from an initial tally of 140, to be transformed into national champions over the next five years.