Divisions

Industrial Footwear

This division comprises three operational companies:

• United Fram – manufacturers of Inyati and other leading brands of industrial leather protective footwear.
• Wayne Plastics – manufacturers of PVC gum boots for the local and export markets.
• Mossop Western Leathers – supplier of bovine leathers to the footwear and leather goods industries.

The key markets of Industrial Footwear (the industrial mining and engineering sectors) are experiencing a growth cycle with demand for product following suit. In 2006, 2.9 million pairs of shoes were produced and sold, representing a major share of the market. Product ranges extend to injection moulded leather, vulcanised rubber boots and shoes, used in variety of diverse industries including mining, petrochemicals, engineering, construction, security, forestry and defence. Key business and competitive drivers are the focus on latest aesthetic appeal and technology, quality and safety of product.

The factories in Johannesburg are ISO 9001-accredited, have the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) approval and are aligned to standards laid down in Europe.

United Fram is the leading industrial leather footwear manufacturer producing the highest quality safety, industrial and security footwear for local and international markets.

Products include leather boots and shoes with injection moulded soles and steel toe caps, and shoes with vulcanised rubber soles, which are used in a wide variety of diverse industries including mining, petrochemical, engineering, construction and defence. Its popular brands of Egoli and Inyati are extensively used in deep-level mining operations in SA. United Fram is the only footwear vulcanising and PU/rubber moulding process manufacturer in South Africa. State-of-the-art robotics and machinery are employed in the manufacture of injection moulded soling. Benefits of the products include cost competitiveness, durability, heat resistance and lightweight construction.

Wayne Plastics manufactures a wide range of PVC and PVC/nitrile gumboots and safety footwear, developing and manufacturing comfortable industrial footwear that meets the stringent durability and safety requirements of SA deep level mining.

A dominant force in the local gumboot market, they provide a substantial base into international markets, where the export order for PVC gumboots amounts to almost 20% of turnover. Heavy duty water-, chemical- and oil-resistant safety boots are shipped to 15 countries worldwide for use in the mining industry. General purpose and specialist gumboots are used for food harvesting, agriculture, food processing, hygienic maintenance and other markets.

Mossop Western Leathers is the largest tannery in South Africa, supplying bovine leathers to the footwear and leather goods industries. The company, established in 1846, is situated in Wellington in the Western Cape and employs 220 people.

A major supplier to local footwear manufacturers, Mossop also exports leather to the UK, Spain, Portugal, India and the Far East. Products are mainly focused on the school shoe market and include grain leathers, PU Coated Leathers and suede related leathers.