The Tradecore Steel Group of Companies, based in Wadeville, Johannesburg, has acquired the KwaZulu-Natal assets of Gibbsteel, a producer of value-added steel products.

The acquisition, effective 1 June 2021, sees Tradecore Steel take over Gibbsteel’s processing plant and facilities in Durban, as well as all equipment, stock, staff and clientele. The operation has been renamed accordingly, thus expanding Tradecore Steel’s South African based processing facilities, and the company’s footprint in KwaZulu-Natal.

Gibbsteel will continue to exist and operate from its Boksburg facilities.

“Gibbsteel has a great name in the industry, and we’re excited to resume their excellent work, both as producers and suppliers of world-class products,” says Jean Paul Briner, founding partner and director at Tradecore Steel.

“In these volatile times, we’re grateful and excited to bring on board a fantastic staff team, which has a reputation for superb customer service and producing high-quality products. We’re looking forward to bringing them into the Tradecore fold, and making their existing customers and suppliers feel like part of the family too.”

The facility, based in Pinetown, processes steel coil into a range of value-added steel products, including roofing profiles, slit sheets, sheets/blanking and fencing. This complements Tradecore’s production facility in Gauteng, which features five state-of-the-art processing lines.

“This acquisition grows Tradecore’s processing capabilities and gives us the flexibility to supply our customers according to their specific needs with reduced lead times. We’re looking forward to the opportunities this acquisition affords our business and our customers,” says Briner.

The Tradecore Steel Group, now in its seventh year of operation, continues to expand its footprint throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, providing expertise in the processing, trading and distribution of a wide range of steel products to the construction, mining, rail and power industries.