The Bel-Essex journey began in the 1970s when two engineering companies – Essex Engineering and Belcosons – involved in general sheet metal and other fabrications, merged to form Bel-Essex Engineering.
In 1981 Bel-Essex Engineering was acquired by its existing shareholders and entered into the automotive component business supplying metal pressings and fabrication.
Bel-Essex Engineering then merged with Microfinish Tooling – a wholly-owned tool room and metal pressing business supplying components to the automotive industry – forming the Bel-Essex Corporation.
Having originally been an equipment supplier to the automotive component industry, Bel-Essex diversified further into that industry by acquiring interests in an automotive wiring harness manufacturing business. This diversification expanded into three new companies namely Powercomp, Beltronix and CazMia Wiring along with vertical integration into cable manufacturing in the company Bel-Comp.
In the early 1990s, Bel-Essex commenced its exploration into the overseas markets in automotive component manufacturing, which led to several joint ventures with overseas manufacturing and technology partners, inter alia, Dräxlmaier (automotive electrical systems and interiors), Woco (rubber to metal and anti-vibration components), and Almec (aluminium high-pressure die casting of engine components).
These ventures brought about other areas of specialisation including metal stamping, tool and die manufacturing, metal welded assemblies, and precision machined and turned components.
Diversification outside of the automotive side of the business had Bel-Essex enter the packaging business with Quick Packaging, allowing the manufacturing of specialised cardboard boxes, and Rifcor which manufactured corrugated cardboard sheeting. These businesses mainly served the wine industry in the Western Cape but were later sold to a large listed packaging group.
Bel-Essex also diversified into textiles and acquired CazMia Clothing that manufactured children’s clothing to specification for larger chain stores like Foschini, Woolworths and Edgars.
It was during the latter part of the 1980s and the early 1990s that Bel-Essex set up textile plants in Mauritius to manufacture a specialised product known as “bobtex weave”. These plants were later sold to a Mauritius-based organisation.
During the early 1990s, Bel-Essex diversified once again acquiring Kenzan Tiles (Pty) Ltd, a national player in the upper end of the ceramic tiles market.
Over time, Bel-Essex has acquired a number of industrial properties that make up a wholly-owned property portfolio. Apart from letting services, it offers a full range of property management, maintenance and development capabilities.
With vast exposure to a variety of industries and businesses through time, Bel-Essex was well-positioned to offer expert advice and consulting services to a wide range of business owners. It was a natural progression to enter into the consulting market which led to the offering of accounting, administrative and secretarial services in this field.
Today, Bel-Essex Corporation is an industrially focused Group involved in manufacturing, property management, business consulting and the provision of strong administration services, and financial backing and technology.
Find out more about our services here.
Bel-Essex is proud of our 40 years of experience in the industrial manufacturing industry. The below video depicts some of the manufacturing projects in which the Bel-Essex Group has been involved.
Bel-Essex – we deliver quality.