1950 African Wire Ropes Ltd (now
Haggie Ltd) was formed by the amalgamation of Haggie Son and Love (1936) Ltd and Rand Ropes Ltd. 600,000 shares were issued to Haggie Son and Love shareholders, 600,000 to Rand Ropes shareholders and 100,000 top mining houses. Output Germiston 5000 tons per annum and Jupiter 15,000 tons per annum. Shareholders Bridon 45%, Union Corp. 10%, Anglo, J.C.I, Rand Mines, Central Mining 3 % each, Haggie family 9%, Love family 8%.
1958 African Wire Ropes (Rhodesia) Ltd was formed to distribute in both Zambia and Zimbabwe.
1960 African Wire Ropes Ltd, Natal
Branch – established in partnership with Victor Kent Ltd. Started 1 July 1960. Official opening 24 October 1960.
1961 African Wire Ropes (Natal) Ltd – 51% held, partner, being Victor Kent the company’s erstwhile Natal selling agent. Became wholly-owned in April 1968.
1963 General Wire Co (Pty) Ltd –
acquitted for R60,000 (1 January 1964) – speciality wire – National Wire Corp of SA Ltd – acquired for R28,3750 (1 July 1963) spring wire and commercial wire. Both companies were combined on Mobeni, Durban site which was sold in 1978. Speciality wire transferred to CWI, other products to Germiston and Jupiter.
1965 African Wire Ropes Ltd – Kitwe
factory opened to manufacture haulage and flex rope. Anglo American told Haggie to update their ropemaking machinery.
1966 Rights issue of 1 for 10 at
R8.00. Issued capital increased from 1.3 million to 1.43 million shares of R2.00
1967 Timberways (Pty) Ltd formed – closed down 1972 established to
distribution@haggie.co.za
develop and sell lightweight, moveable ropeways for the forestry industry. Copperbelt Rope splicers acquired by African Wire Ropes Ltd – Zambia. Rosslyn Steel & Wire Industries (Pty) Ltd – 90% acquired – sold 1970. Imported the first Wafios Veldspan machine. Manufactured Veldspan initially at Jupiter and later transferred to CWI. African Wire Ropes (Cape) (Pty) Ltd – formed to take over activities of Cape Town branch. The company had been previously represented by Joseph Curry & Co (Pty) Ltd. Appointed 1962 jointly with Dowson & Dobson. AWH Computer Services (now Haggie Rand Computer Services) was formed as a 50:50 partnership with Hume Ltd. Wholly owned 1974.
1968 PHB Mechanical Handling
(Pty) Ltd – acquired 20% for R38,000 – sold 1972. The object was the development of ropeways and rope utilization transport systems. Wirex (Pty) Ltd – 75% acquired for R976,000 -25 % acquired for R325,000 (1969). Manufactured high carbon and mild steel wire at Vanderbijl. Established ties with Bekaert.
1969 SA Liquid Meters (Pty) Ltd
– 15% acquired for R22950 (1971) – became wholly owned and sold in 1980. Manufactured domestic and industrial water meters in Pinetown. African Wire Ropes de Venezuela was formed to service the oil industry. The company still exists to protect a legal position against erstwhile “agent”.
1970 Precision Springs (Pty) Ltd –
20% acquired for R54,000 – sold 1971. Manufactured valve and other high carbon wire products in P.E sold to the major shareholder. Alucab (Pty) Ltd – 33% purchased for R333,000 – sold 1971 – partners Goldfields of SA and JK Jardine to manufacture ACSR. John Henderson appointed Chairman.
1971 Blue Strand Industries –
Australia – Initial investment of 10%
+27 (0) 11 601 8400
cost R120,449 – sold 1982. Other shareholders Bridon and Union Corp. Ltd – manufactured high carbon wire products. Wire business closed down and the company became Birkmyre Canvas – Sold to Bridon. A19 was installed and commissioned at Jupiter. Shareholding Bridon 48%, Union Corp 13%, Anglo and Rand Mines 3% each, J.C.I 4%. Eclipse Engineering Ltd – 5% acquired for R47,500 –sold 1979 – Small investment acquired as an entry into engineering.
1972 Gourock Ropes & Canvas
(Africa) Ltd – assets acquired for R775,000 – became Haggie Industrial Products Ltd. Remaining part of the business in Port Elizabeth and Durban ‘sail floor” and Johns Mansville agency for Filter powder. Zimbabwe Wire & Rope – Kwekwe factory opened. Haggie was invited to buy into Cape Gate’s steel mill but was turned down.
1973 Wire Industries Ltd was
formed by the merger of Wirex and Wispeco’s wires business. WM Smith Ltd Zimbabwe acquired – became WM Smith & Gourock – sold 1981.
1974 Pietermaritzburg Factory –
cost R9m started. Rights issues of 25 for 100 at R18.50. Issued capital from 1.43m to 1.7875m shares of R2.00. Shareholding after rights issue Bridon 40%, Uni Corp 24%, J.C.I 4% Rand Mines 3%, Haggie family 7%. Technoplastics (Pty) Ltd – acquired for R135000 – part of Haggie Industrial Products Ltd – Closed. Icaso-Mozambique – 35% acquired for R175000. Computerisation of rope design initiated.
1975 Springfield Industries
Corporation USA initial investment of 49% became 100% in 1986 closed down 1989 as a result of US sanctions.
1976 Pietermaritzburg factory closed. 1977 Ian Haggie succeeds John Henderson as chairman and Donald
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