Longstanding member Andreas Jäger, who’s well established Airport Business still goes from strength to strength with currently the construction and development of a new airport in Kigali/Rwanda, informed us that he took control of Screenex to effect a successful turnaround. Screenex Manufacturing is a manufacturer of screening equipment, such as wire screens, polyurethane panels, rubber panels and screening frames. The clients are predominantly in the South African mining sector, such as coal, minerals, iron ore, precious metals, diamonds etc.
And another one of the classic South African Manufacturers has joined the fold of the German / Austrian controlled companies in the country. Screenex Manufacturing is a manufacturer of screening equipment, such as wire screens, polyurethane panels, rubber panels and screening frames. The clients are predominantly in the South African mining sector, such as coal, minerals, iron ore, precious metals, diamonds etc.
Late August 2016 a member of the ABC, Andreas Jäger, who’s well established Airport Business still goes from strength to strength with currently the construction and development of a new airport in Kigali/Rwanda, took control of Screenex to effect a successful turnaround.
The company was established in 1957 and since then started growing its client base in the South African market. In cooperation with their clients Screenex developed new products for the market to improve the efficiency of their clients’ production processes.
A dedicated R&D department and an on-site tool room allowed Screenex to design and manufacture many solutions and new products, resulting in many patents and putting Screenex into the position of a market leader in the industry. Screenex is still known as a strong brand name, however, the business had been neglected from the early 2000’s onwards.
After Screenex was sold by the founders in 2006 / 2007 (in an MBO) the company got sold again to a multinational group of companies, Weatherford International, who in turn sold the company on to another multinational company in 2013, together with some other companies they owned. After it had been discovered that Screenex does not really fit in the new owner’s structure of companies, ultimately a Swiss Investor bought Screenex late in late 2013.
A different market approach
In June 2014 Screenex sold the HDPE Pipe section. The pipe section needed a different market approach and the investor decided to rather focus on the core business of the company: wire screens, PU and Rubber panels and screening frames. The company services and supplies screening products to the mining and aggregate industry. While this was a tough environment over the last few years, the business has survived and is well placed for an upturn in the resources sector.
Exports into Africa
Exports to the neighbouring countries such as Botswana, Namibia and Zambia have not been included in the business plan as management is of the opinion that there is sufficient potential in South Africa that should be exploited first and the companies’ marketplace in South Africa needs to consolidated to regain its market share. With the results out for the 1st Quarter 2017 figures show a significant up-turn already and the turnaround strategy applied seems to take a firm grip. The future of Screenex seems to become brighter by the day and the next step of the business strategy – expanding Internal and External Sales Teams – may well be taken on and implemented.