FEATUR

E

E L I T E F I B R E

E L I T E F I B R E

I n 1999 Mark Watters and Shawn Mulder started a small company in Montague Gardens, Cape Town, doing repairs of GRP vehicle bodies. They called the company

Elite Fibre. Today, it is one of the leading brands of GRP vehicle bodies to the food chain distribution sector. “Very few of the major chains have not used us,” Watters tells South Africa Magazine.

Elite Fibre is one of the industry’s leading brands and manufactures high quality GRP, insulated and semi-insulated truck and trailer bodies and GRP trailers, while also offering a repairs service to all truck and trailer load bodies, including steel repairs and spray painting.

“We are proud to say that we are the largest manufacturer of GRP, insulated, and semi-

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Elite Fibre manufactures insulated truck and

trailer bodies and says it is South Africa’s leading

manufacturer of GRP, insulated and semi-

insulated truck and trailer bodies and GRP trailers.

By Ian Armitage

S P E C I A L I S T S I N T R U C K & T R A I L E R A N D R E P A I RB O D I E S M A N U F A C T U R E R

E L I T E F I B R ES P E C I A L I S T S I N T R U C K & T R A I L E R A N D R E P A I R

insulated load bodies in South Africa,” the company’s website says. “We have a reputation for delivering the best quality and service. We are also based in Johannesburg and Durban,” it continues.

Elite Fibre has proven to be a top quality refrigeration body manufacturer in South Africa. Its approach to manufacture, in both the use of quality components and strict control over the manufacturing process, is what impresses customers, Watters says.

The client base has — as you would expect — expanded over the years to include many that operate large national fl eets: Parmalat, Clover, Blue Ribbon, Pick ‘n Pay, Shoprite Checkers, Sasko and HFR Transport, for example.

“The list of Elite Fibre customers has expanded

to include a wide cross section of the food industry, supermarket chain groups, transport companies, most of South Africa’s transporters of hanging meat carcasses and freight companies,” Watters says. “Many of our customers are national operators and deserve to have a quality back-up service.”

Although the core business of Elite Fibre is the manufacture of rigid GRP vehicle bodies, it has a number of strings to its bow.

In 2004, Elite Fibre bought Stargate Bodies in Johannesburg, a company with a reputation for service and quality of product in GRP vehicle bodies. In 2005

Elite Fibre FEATURE

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Elite Fibre Gauteng moved to larger premises to accommodate the increase in the volume of business.

“Instead of opening a new branch from scratch in Gauteng, it was decided to join forces with Rediwaan Khan of Stargate Bodies, who has an established reputation for quality workmanship and a reliable service,” Watters says. “Having three branches that maintain the same quality standards, has proved beneficial in meeting the delivery demands of our national clients, as an example for a recent order of RTT, we manufactured the rigids in Johannesburg and the trailers in Cape Town.”

Repairs to GRP bodies remain a priority at Elite Fibre.

“Service and quality of product is of prime importance and is very evident in the lasting strength and performance of our bodies. In particular our trailers have shown excellent performance and are largely due to there being no compromise on the amount of materials used, quality of materials and workmanship. There are no short cuts or skimping on materials as this will only result in comebacks and product failures. Our quality of workmanship stems from our reliable and committed

staff, a number of which have been with us since day one and are well known to all our clients,” Watters, who has been in the GRP vehicle body business for the past 17 years, told Cape Business News.

In 2010, Frans van Vianen joined Elite Fibre as a Director, being in the Refrigerated Transport business for 30 years.

“We are very excited to have a person with Frans’ experience and capabilities, being part of the company,” says Watters.

Earlier this year, Elite Fibre announced a new partnership with Afrit, one of the most respected and innovative trailer manufacturers in Africa.

In the past Afrit made use of very expensive materials in the manufacturing of refrigerated bodies and therefore were

not price competitive. In a release, Afrit said, thanks to the new business

agreement, it is able to offer “refrigerated trailers at a much more competitive price”.

“Afrit recently engaged in a new business agreement with Elite Fibre that will provide mutual

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Elite Fibre FEATURE

Service and quality of

product is of prime

importanceMark Watters,

Elite Fibre

GEA Refrigeration TechnologiesGEA Refrigeration Africa (Pty) Ltd19 Chain Avenue, Montague Gardens, 7441, South AfricaTel. + 27 21 555 9000, Fax + 27 21 551 4036 transport-sa @ geagroup.com www.gearefrigeration.co.za

In Touoch

GEA Refrigeration Africa Providing efficient transport temperture control systems and service from 11 branches throughout sub-saharan Africa

Thermo King- Truck and trailers unitsDhollandia - Manufacturers of hydraulic liftsPommier Furgocar - Truck and trailer accessoriesReconditioned Mobile Units - offering a three month warranty on reconditioned parts and customised service schedules

GEA Refrigeration TechnologiesGEA Refrigeration Technologies

SouthAfricaMag 2011 Half Page Transport.indd 1 2011/12/08 04:20:54 PM

Rigifoam have always been conscious of our environment when

developing new and updating existing product ranges. Rigifoam are the only

producer of ‘green foam’ in South Africa, no CFC’s or HCFC’s are used in our production.

Rigifoam - keeping up withfiRstwoRld technologies.

Manufacturers of rigid Polyurethane and Polyisocyanuratefoams. Suppliers of profile sections, flat sheet and two

component rigid and flexible foam systems.

At the core of our businessOUR HEARTS BEAT GREEN

www.rigifoam.co.zatel: +27(0) 11 421 0313

benefits for both parties,” a release said. “Afrit purchase insulated bodies from Elite Fibre and in return Elite Fibre will make use of Afrit chassis. The new venture will lead to improved prices, which benefit our clients.

“Elite Fibre is one of the largest manufacturers of GRP insulated and semi-insulated load bodies in South Africa,” it added. “The company is well renowned for delivering quality products and services. They have been in business for quite a few years with branches in Cape Town, Durban and Gauteng.”

Afrit has sold more than 30 refrigerated trailers with Elite Fibre bodies since the new agreement.

“We are looking forward to the road ahead and the new heights that both companies will be looking to achieve,” Afrit said.

To learn more about Elite Fibre, visit www.elitefibre.co.za. END

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