S.J Botha snr and his oldest son Jaco started forging in September 1994, with R10 000, one hammer, gas for furnaces and a hired compressor for the hammer.
As the business grew the other sons and daughter also joined in. Johan the 2nd oldest came on board and learned the forging trade under his father who today has 40+ years experience as a blacksmith
Sarina the only daughter came onboard and assisted her mother Winnie Botha with the administration and finances
Fanie the youngest brother who did his apprenticeship at Frankwen Forge came in next and was for a few years in charge of the Pretoria branch. Hannes the middle brother came to the business in 2008 after giving up teaching and is now head of HR. Being in the trade for 16 yrs things changed considerably. Central Forge now has 5 hammers, 4 furnaces, a manipulator, 7 experienced blacksmiths, 40 staff members, 3 compressors, a boring mill and lathe for proof machining. |
