GALVATECH: Galvatech Builds Capacity and Culture for Long-Term Growth

From towering steel structures in construction to critical components in energy and transport, steel underpins modern infrastructure. But steel is vulnerable. Left unprotected, it corrodes, compromising safety, reliability, and longevity. Hot dip galvanising has emerged as one of the most effective solutions to this global problem. By bonding zinc to steel, galvanising creates a durable, sacrificial barrier that shields against the relentless wear of wind, rain, and sun. For industries investing in heavy equipment, pipelines, or structural frameworks, galvanising is not just an added cost – it’s a safeguard that turns a few years of durability into decades of reliable performance.

In South Africa, one name has become synonymous with quality galvanising: Galvatech. With three decades of experience, a reputation for service excellence, and a bold new leadership team, the company is positioning itself as a corrosion protection specialist for the future. Headquartered in the Western Cape and serving clients well beyond, Galvatech is investing in capacity, sustainability, and culture to ensure it remains the partner of choice for projects large and small.

INDUSTRY LEADER

“We are corrosion protection specialists. Anything that remains in the sun, wind, or rain will wear in time. For steel, wear manifests as corrosion, progressively reducing strength and leading to potential structural failure over time. Hot dip galvanising is the most effective and durable corrosion protection strategy for steel. It is also the backbone of the Galvatech business. The process of hot dip galvanising chemically bonds a zinc layer to the steel substrate lending decades of sacrificial protection for the steel,” CEO Tertius Hickman tells Enterprise Africa.

“In many cases, coating solutions like industrial painting, powder or PVC coating may lend sufficient protection for metal or is chosen for a desired aesthetic finish. Duplex coatings, comprising zinc galvanising and a surface coating offer enhanced protection designed for the harshest of corrosive environments. Galvatech offers all these technologies as a one-stop-solution. Naturally, we also do the chemical and mechanical surface preparation required including cleaning, etching, shot blasting and sand blasting,” he adds.

The company employs more than 100 people and operates from a purpose-built facility in Bellville. Galvatech has the capacity to manage projects of varying scale, servicing small to large contractors, fabricators, and steel producers across the Western Cape and beyond.

“Our world class galvanizing plant with 14m zinc bath was commissioned last year. We are expanding our powder coating plant to double the current capacity. We have also created huge capacity in the painting division,” says Hickman. “So we have runway to grow. Our mission is to attract new business, while we maintain excellent service to our loyal client base. We welcome clients of all shapes and sizes, whether that be someone welding in their backyard or an industrial scale steel company. Across the board, we aim to be their preferred corrosion protection partner.”

COMPETITIVE EDGE

While galvanising is not the cheapest process, it is undoubtedly the most durable. “If you only paint steel, it will typically last up to five years before you need to do first maintenance. Galvanising can last up to 30 years before you have to initiate first maintenance. When you compare the two, for products in corrosive environments, financially and practically it’s a no brainer,” says Hickman.

Customers are particularly attracted to Galvatech’s ability to combine galvanising with coating and painting – a dual approach that can extend corrosion protection for 50 years or more. “Customers appreciate the fact that we can do both – galvanise and then paint. Or to have the option of either process. Combining galvanising with a coating of high-quality paint, you can enhance your corrosion protection to 50 years or more. This is hugely beneficial for steel structures in harsh environments.”

As a family-owned business with 31 years of heritage, Galvatech has cultivated a culture of service, trust, and long-term partnerships. “We believe we are focused on personal relationships with each of our clients and we truly service them with a deep understanding of their needs.” Hickman says. “We endeavour to have customers for life and we treat our customers like part of a family. That is a core foundational principle of how we run the business.”

SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY

Environmental responsibility is at the heart of Galvatech’s strategy, as it recognises the nature of its business from a consumption perspective. “Our process is lead-free and the only bath in South Africa to boast this. The move to be lead free was a conscious decision. We want to be environmentally friendly, and we think others will follow but we are happy to be the first,” Hickman says. “We had the opportunity to make this plant world-class as much of it is new. Our air extraction and our capturing of white fumes results in zero emissions. We are also a zero effluent plant with no process waste entering the ground or the sewers.”

Perhaps the most significant sustainability investment came with the recent installation of a 612-kw solar system. “We just installed a new solar system, a big boost for us as electricity is our largest expense. We have to keep the zinc bath at 450-degrees all year round, whether we are galvanising or not. Any way that we can offset that cost is helpful,” explains Hickman. “We cannot be fully reliant on solar because our demand is large, but when the sun is shining we can significantly reduce our requirement from the grid. When we are not galvanising, we have spare capacity to contribute to the grid.”

Galvatech is emission free, effluent free, lead free, and increasingly solar powered. For an industry often criticised for its environmental footprint, Galvatech is proving that world-class galvanising can be achieved with a level of responsibility.

LEADERSHIP TRANSITION

After more than three decades of family-led growth, Galvatech’s founders recently handed over leadership to Hickman. “What a privilege to take over the leadership of an organisation where the investments made have been solid and there is significant runway forward.”

The company was founded by three engineers, transforming their vision and passion into a thriving business. As they wanted to transition to non-executive roles, they decided to appoint a CEO to take the company forward on their behalf. The first challenge thereafter was successful leadership transition. The change was managed through collaboration, transparency, and trust-building. “The process of establishing and working with the newly constituted management team, understanding our strengths and weaknesses and planning ahead, was very rewarding. As a team, we had to be very open about what we bring to the table and where the gaps were. The founders remain very supportive and their contribution remains meaningful and valuable.”

This transition marks the start of a new era for Galvatech – one where strong family values meet structured, modern leadership. “The last thing we want to do is become overly corporate and part with our foundational values. This is a family business that is somewhat formalising, but we don’t want to lose the ability to maintain close relationships. We want to remain agile, adaptable and client centric,” Hickman explains.

With added capacity, sustainable systems, and a culture focused on service, Galvatech is well placed to capture new opportunities. “We have expanded our capacity, incorporating world class technology. We are very focused on client service and we’re passionate about our product and our people.” says Hickman.

For South Africa’s steel sector, and for industries reliant on durable infrastructure, Galvatech offers not just galvanising, but peace of mind. As Hickman concludes, “We want to be your preferred corrosion protection partner.”