CADCON
Proud History Opens Up Bright Future
For more than 35 years CADCON has been one of the central building blocks in South Africa and beyond. Numerous projects across multiple sectors exhibit the combination of the company’s specialist expertise and proven track-record to deliver quality steelwork on any scale and of any scope.
CADCON is the driving force behind the innovating, building and creation of many of South Africa’s most recognisable and celebrated structures and buildings. Its work entails projects in the industrial and manufacturing, commercial, and mining sectors, not only locally but increasingly further afield on the continent.
“CADCON specialises in structural and architectural steel solutions from design through to final installation,” the company relays, from its base in Lyttleton, Pretoria. Here, four workshops covering a total of 15,600m² with the capacity to produce around 600 tons of fabricated steel per month, serviced by 26 overhead crane provide a stock-yard of some 15,000m² and a similarly-sized outdoor painting and blasting facility.
CADCON’s resultant capabilities cover project management with TEKLA PowerFab, 3D modelling and detail draughting also in TEKLA and supply, fabrication and erection of both structural steel and platework. PowerFab is the comprehensive software suite offering a systematic, collaborative approach for managing fabrication, one of Tekla’s landmark products in its bid to transform the construction industry, overcome previously insurmountable challenges and achieve outstanding results.
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BRIGHT FUTURE
Since its humble beginnings from a single small factory outside Pretoria, CADCON has forever been forging the most formidable of relationships through steelwork. “Our proud history has prepared us for a bright future,” the company beams. “Over the years, our name has become synonymous with exceptional quality, cost-effective solutions, and on-time delivery. Our legacy remains firmly rooted in our prizing respect and loyalty in the construction industry, as was initially earned by our founding members.”
Founded by mechanical engineering student Gerhard Meiring and soon joined by still-active Director, Barry Barnard, CADCON started out performing light steelwork and sundry metalwork from its garage workshop, before purchasing industrial property in Centurion in 1995. Having constructed its first workshop and office facility of 2,100m² with four overhead cranes, CADCON was awarded its first major project in 1996 in the form of the BMW Paint Shop contract in Rosslyn. “This was the launching pad that saw CADCON securing its place in the steel construction industry of South Africa over the next decade,” the company explains, and several other major projects, including the 700-ton Mercedes Paint Shop in East London, followed shortly thereafter.
The award of the Medupi project in 2006 in a joint venture with two other steel manufacturers prompted the second wave of rapid growth, and over the ensuing years CADCON invested in business and workshop automation through the implementation of several state-of-the-art Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machineries and supporting management software.
ICONIC STRUCTURES
The ability to recognise truly exceptional quality and delivery has brought much acclaim CADCON’s way. At the 2018 Steel Awards CADCON was overall winner for its work on the Time Square Sun Arena, having won in the architectural steel category at the ceremony the previous year for the casino and hotel development at the same location.
“CADCON’s projects are visible in many landmarks throughout South Africa, Mauritius, and as far as the DRC,” the company adds, and each acts as a showcase to its famed commitment to excellence. “For more than three decades we’ve been building South Africa and beyond.
“As one of SA’s leading structural steel experts, CADCON’s contribution to the industry can be seen in some of the most iconic buildings in the country. Our commitment to excellence has seen us being part of record-breaking projects such as the Redstone Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Project, PnP Distribution Centre, Jeppe High School’s Pedestrian Bridge and many others.” This latter project represents an extraordinary undertaking which took three decades to become a reality, the resulting bridge providing scholars with a safer environment between Jeppe High School for Girls’ two campuses.
“Another successful build for CADCON was the Pepkor Warehouse,” the company furthers. “This warehouse footprint in Hammarsdale includes areas such as canopies, mezzanine floors, office areas and the gross building area (GBA) giving us an impressive total of 308,029 m² operating surface.” CADCON acted as the steelwork contractor on the project, a building roofed and clad with a high tech, premium grade of coated steel that provides not only long life in service but also an attractive finish. The building features further innovative usages of steel on many levels, according to the company.
Located near to Postmasburg in the Northern Cape, Redstone CSP is among the largest renewable energy investments in South Africa. At the 100MW plant, large mirrors reflect the sun’s rays toward the tower where thermal energy is collected in molten salt and then converted to electricity, with CADCON charged with the fabrication and erection of the hot and cold molten structures along with the erection of the steam generation structure.
“The Redstone CSP will house 12 hours of full-load energy storage, and will be able to reliably deliver a stable electricity supply to more than 200,000 South African homes during peak demand periods, even well after the sun has set,” says CADCON of the groundbreaking site, whose construction commenced in May 2021 and is set for completion later this year.
CADCON has developed significantly across its lifetime and is now recognised as an industry leader, with major projects for clients across all industries well within its wheelhouse. From steel warehouses to distribution centres to shopping centres to aircraft hangars or mining storage facilities, CADCON has unrivalled experience comprising hundreds of completed projects, some of them decades in the planning and making. “We put as much effort into our steel whether it is going into a petrochemical plant or a commercial shopping centre,” summarised MD Paul Rebelo to Enterprise Africa last year. “With CADCON, certainty of delivery is a definite.”