Premier Safety Footwear Manufacturers (Pty) Ltd

A BEE Success Story

Premier Safety Factory click to enlarge

Premier Safety Footwear was established in July 1993, by Richard Reddiar, to manufacture Safety Footwear for the domestic Personal Protective Equipment market.

The company started production in rented premises in Jeppestown with an output of 50 pairs of basic safety boots per day. The product was well accepted by the market and steady growth ensued. In 1997 the factory moved to it's own premises in Devland, south of Johannesburg, and continued to prosper to the extent that the new factory, of 1000 sq/m soon became too small and in 2002 a second factory, the same size as the first, was built on the same property.

Premier Safety Inside click to enlarge

From the original 50 pairs per day Premier now produces 25000 pairs of safety footwear per month. The product range has expanded to a full and diverse range of safety footwear, from the original basic boot to a sophisticated dual density polyurethane soled safety shoe. In 2002 Premier obtained the right to use the SABS mark, thereby demonstrating the Company's ability to consistently manufacture safety footwear to the highest standards.

Also in 2002, Premier installed, at a cost of R1 million, two direct injection PVC soling machines and a year later, at a cost of a further R2 million, a dual density Polyurethane soling plant.

These two capital acquisitions have widened the Company's product range and increased the production capacity by a further 10000 pairs per month, which increase will be achieved by the end of 2004 when an overall output of 35000 pairs per month is planned.

Premier Safety is the first, and so far, only wholly black owned organisation in this specialized field of manufacture. It currently employs 80 people, 95% of whom are black, and 15% of whom are women. The company is proud of it's efforts to advance the progress of the disadvantaged communities and has, over the years of it's existence, trained many Previously Disadvantaged Individuals to become skilled footwear factory workers.

Premier Safety Inside click to enlarge	Premier Safety Inside click to enlarge	Premier Safety Inside click to enlarge	Premier Safety Inside click to enlarge