COLUMBIT: Honesty, Quality and Innovation Key Ingredients for Columbit

As it closes in on a monumental century at the helm of supplying the South African food processing industry with the very best in machinery and technology, Columbit still manages to strike the perfect balance between applying the full weight of its extensive, historic experience and remaining adaptable and able to find opportunity in challenge. “We are confident and bold in what we do, yet flexible and sensitive to the needs of our customers,” the company abridges at the outset.

“We apply our energy and ingenuity, to build a growing, continually improving business from which all stakeholders will benefit.”

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

The spirit of constant improvement has been arguably the key ingredient in Columbit’s success, and longevity, over such a sustained and lengthy period. Founded in 1937 by the late Mr Ernest Zeh, a German immigrant from Meinz, the company was officially registered in 1938 to explore the many opportunities identified to introduce European technology and know-how to the African market.

This turned out to be an astute observation, and over the years the company has built a reputation based on integrity and sound values in its steadfast commitment to suppliers, customers and staff.

“We have succeeded as a business over the last 80 years through a simple blend of honesty, integrity, hard work and dedication” Columbit reasons. “Our simple philosophy is that one cannot buy a good name in business; one needs to earn a good name by being honest.

“We strive to only market and support the finest quality products, and have built our business through keeping our commitments in terms of the performance of our products,” Columbit further explores, with an unbending commitment to customer satisfaction and service also firmly on the menu.

“Always attentive to the needs of our customers and their continuous search for quality, we are constantly on the look-out for the latest technological developments that will provide value added opportunities to our customers and keep their business at the forefront of technology in its specialist field.

“Strong ties with suppliers keep us at the forefront of technological developments and allow Columbit to offer competitive pricing.”

Today Columbit is a dynamic, diversified operation supplying top quality consumables, equipment and service to the wine, food and beverage industries in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. “All divisions are ably supported by a knowledgeable sales team, qualified technicians, and superb aftermarket spares and support staff,” Columbia adds, noting that it actively fosters a thriving entrepreneurial spirit within the fold. “As brand custodians we employ professional people who are enthusiastically committed to service excellence and sustainable profitability.”

Columbit attains the ideal equilibrium between size and service, the company makes clear, living by the maxim of ‘large enough to make a difference, but small enough to care,’ across everything from meat processing, including trimming, skinning, dicing, cooking, injecting and smoking to pumps, labelling, sleeving, and capping, an unmatched range supplied by the world’s best manufacturers.

CRITICAL ROLE

“Columbit represents a number of first-class European equipment manufacturers and, in most cases, such representation has spanned over many years – some as long as 60 years,” the company details. The cutting-edge, European-manufactured technology and equipment supplied by Columbit is known for durability and advanced and is of the highest quality, able to withstand the harsh manufacturing conditions synonymous with food and beverage production in Africa.

“We strive to develop and maintain strong relationships with our customers and pride ourselves as a quality supplier and service provider. When our customers succeed, so do we.”

At Columbit, it all boils down to a deep and unquenchable desire to boost productivity, precision and efficiency, all through the provision of tailored solutions to meet unique business needs, the company summates. The food processing industry is in the midst of a critical period in its quest to expand dramatically to aid in South Africa’s drive for localisation.

With more, and better, equipment, long-held expertise and ever-improving efficiency, Africa could take advantage of appetising economic opportunities while simultaneously addressing food security and job creation.

“At Columbit we understand the critical role reliable equipment plays in the food and beverage industry,” the company closes. “Join us, and let’s redefine the art of food and beverage service together.”