COMPANY PROFILE
COMPANY PROFILE: TWINSTAR PRECAST Pro Landscaper catches up with Twinstar Precast’s Managing Director, Annemerie Hilhorst, to hear all about this major player to the industry’s beginnings, plans for the future and theory that, “If you can dream it, they can make it.”
Tell us how the company was conceived – was there a particular need for Twinstar Precast? The emphasis in the concrete pipe and manhole market is typically on high volumes, and the time to design and build moulds for nonstandard products disrupts the production line. Manufacturing once-off products is time consuming and would often require additional skills and supervision and is usually not profitable for these companies. We established Twinstar Precast after identifying this gap in the market for precast custom products and once-off items. What are the types of products you have on offer to landscape architects and exterior contractors? We typically manufacture precast concrete products which are not already available on the market, as well as once-off items, and can produce products ranging in weight from 20kg up to 6 tons. We manufacture most of our own moulds and therefor we can manufacture almost any design. Landscape architects have an eye for something that would look good in a certain area, but this is always a new idea and difficult to find. Twinstar Precast aim to turn these dreams into reality. Are there any new developments/projects you are working on at the moment? We are currently working on the Non-motorized Transport Park in Ekhuruleni as well as three of the new wind farms being built in the Northern and Western Cape. 18
Pro Landscaper Africa | August 2019
What would you describe as your most rewarding project to date, and why? In 2017 we casted slabs to close six abandoned mine shafts in the East Rand. This was a challenging project, as the site conditions were difficult and the open mine shafts were quite big and deep. We also had to ensure that the slabs we made could potentially withstand malicious damage from illegal miners in these areas. We successfully closed 6 shafts and they are still sealed off 2 years later. It is Woman’s Month this August and we are celebrating and applauding strong women in the industry. What does it mean to be a woman business owner in this industry? Being a woman in construction can be tough as it is typically believed that construction is for men, and contractors don’t always take you seriously as they have the perception that woman do not understand construction, especially in the field of civil engineering.
team, including management and admin staff consists of 18 people. We deliver all over South Africa and we offer a service of site visits if a customer needs assistance in Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga or Limpopo. Where do you envisage Twinstar in the next 5 years? Twinstar will never become a very large corporate-type business. I believe in giving personal attention in the manufacturing process and would like to keep it small enough that I can still be involved in the everyday production of my customer’s products. Our production plan Is different every day because of the specialized products we do. This needs special attention throughout the day. Our aim is to become the obvious choice when ordering bespoke precast products. Who are some architects and landscape architects you hope to work with and why?
Elizabeth Cady Stanton once said: “The best protection any woman can have is courage. Have courage and a passion for what you do. Nobody will stop you."
For me, working with upcoming contractors and architects is much more satisfactory than working with big companies who have already made a name for themselves. As I had to start on my own, and learn from my mistakes and knowledge shared by people who have been in the industry for years, I get a lot more enjoyment and satisfaction in helping a young contractor to achieve his or her end goal on a project.
Where might we see some of Twinstar Precast's products around South Africa?
What is the most interesting custom piece you have ever manufactured for a client?
We have supplied to contractors across South Africa. From plinths on windfarms in Noupoort, Loeriesfontein, Springbok and Touwsrivier to entrance signs in Wattville and pump houses in Burgersfort.
On the Non-motorized transport project in Wattville, we had to manufacture concrete bicycle stands. This was a huge challenge but at the same time very exciting. From designing the moulds in such a way that it would be possible to fit the reinforcing and cast the concrete, to demoulding without breaking the separation beams, it was very unique. We manufactured and delivered 30 units in total.
Successful people are not gifted. They just work hard, then succeed on purpose. A woman in a man’s world just work twice as hard and succeeds with a smile.
How big is your team, where are you based and what areas do you service within South Africa? We are based in Olifantsfontein, Gauteng and my
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