JTC Building Systems

ENGINEERING STRUCTURAL

SUCCESS ACROSS AFRICA

CONSTRUCTION YOU CAN COUNT

With facilities in South Africa, and having worked in around 15 countries across the continent, JTC Building Systems emerges as one of the leaders in the structural steel industry. Toit Oosthuizen, Managing Director, tells us more about the company’s recent successes and its hopes for the future

Writer: Lily Sawyer | Project Manager: Kierron Rose

The construction and engineering industry in South Africa has faced serious challenges of late, from load shedding in the form of national planned power outages, to potential extortion and corruption from so-called ‘construction mafias’.

As a result, local and foreign investment in the industry remains scarce.

Despite myriad factors that threaten to undermine it, JTC Building Systems (JTC) remains positive about the year ahead and insists that 2024 will see ample market opportunities within the sector.

“I firmly believe that there will always

CONSTRUCTION COUNT ON

remain a place in the industry for companies that think outside the box and are willing to go the extra mile for their clients,” opens Toit Oosthuizen, Managing Director of JTC.

As specialists in the design, supply, and installation of pre-engineered buildings (PEBs) and associated steel structures throughout Africa, the steel industry is also of great importance to JTC.

Notably, South Africa’s steel sector has faced its own unique challenges recently, epitomised by the proposal from Arcelor

Mittal South Africa (AMSA) to cease operations at its Newcastle and Vereeniging steel plants.

“The decision will lead to around 3,500 direct job losses, in addition to downstream job cuts,” reveals Oosthuizen.

AMSA’s decision is anticipated to diminish stability and positivity within South Africa’s steel sector. However, JTC continues to remain positive.

“It is my opinion that there is a silver lining around the dark cloud that hovers over the construction industry in South Africa. We at JTC are positive about 2024,” he reflects.

A TEAM EFFORT

JTC is a group of companies comprising JTC Africa, JTC South Africa, and JTC Zambia, the latter of which has seen tremendous growth in the past 18 months.

“80 percent of our business occurs outside of South Africa and, as such, we have a better understanding of the logistical challenges around working in Africa than most other steel fabricators in the country,” Oosthuizen informs us.

In 2023, the company exported more than 150 trucks and containers into Africa, including to some of the most remote areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

JTC also boasts an industry-leading turnaround time for 3D Tekla models, from quoting to issuing, and from client review to approval.

Ultimately, the company strives to offer a true one-stop shop for the continent’s structural steel industry needs.

“Clients can deal with a single point of contact from engineering and design right through to execution on site. We therefore focus on giving our clients’ ideas structure, literally and figuratively,” Oosthuizen enthuses.

JTC’s clientele varies from privately-owned companies to some of the globe’s largest publicly listed corporations. Its staff base comprises 50 permanent and contract employees, a significant proportion of whom can be considered industry experts.

“We have a lean, mean team, with every member playing a crucial role,” he comments.

Typically, JTC’s expert staff members work hand in hand with

structural engineers and architects that have been appointed by clients. JTC’s collaboration with professional teams ensures improvements and solutions throughout.

“Because of the depth of understanding that our engineers and structural detailers possess, JTC is able to offer advice on the structural fabrication processes, buildability, and value engineering of a project. Our staff understand how to bring theory and real life together in synergy,” Oosthuizen excites.

To ensure the continued professional development of its staff, JTC provides support for further training and short courses, whilst younger employees are mentored by professionals in the relevant field. Furthermore, factory staff undergo training in which additional skills are taught.

“Our staff are our most valuable asset. Without their dedication and hard work, JTC would not exist,” he states.

PROJECTS AND PROPOSALS

Over the years, JTC has demonstrated its comprehensive understanding of the construction and engineering industry in executing a range of successful projects, spanning South Africa and the continent.

The Zambian Breweries expansion project in Lusaka, for example, saw JTC participate in the design, supply, and installation of over 1,000 tonnes (t) of PEB structures, including 200 t of lattice-type pipe bridges.

Having redesigned the structure to introduce a new loading canopy and full product warehouse, the expansion led to the client gaining 10,000 square metres (sqm) of additional warehouse space without any internal columns.

“This project demonstrated our ability to offer value engineering solutions to our clients. In addition, it highlighted how we plan and transport construction materials promptly and understand the complexity of execution within a live plant environment,” Oosthuizen outlines.

AFRICA OUTLOOK: HOW DID YOU FIRST BECOME INTERESTED IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY?

Toit Oosthuizen, Managing Director: “I completed my bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at the University of Stellenbosch in 2009, during which I realised that I enjoyed steel design and that I was pretty good at it.

“After completing my studies, I joined BVI Consulting Engineers in 2012. I moved over to Aurecon (now Zutari) in 2014, before being quickly approached by Clotan Steel in 2015 to start up their PEB Division. For me, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as I could focus on designing steel buildings, which was my passion.

“In March 2020, I was introduced to Johan Mans, and we immediately clicked. Mans played, and still plays, a pivotal role in JTC.

“As a team, we understood how we wanted the business to work, and we had a good client base. We partnered with CIS Engineering for the fabrication of PEBs and other steel structures and, to this day, work with them as our partner for all large projects.

“JTC started trading in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. With an unimaginable amount of grace from God, JTC is growing stronger and stronger.”

“I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS REMAIN A PLACE IN THE INDUSTRY FOR COMPANIES THAT THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND ARE WILLING TO GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR THEIR CLIENTS”

– TOIT OOSTHUIZEN, MANAGING DIRECTOR,

JTC BUILDING SYSTEMS

JTC – AT A GLANCE

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING – From inception through to project completion, JTC ensures that its clients benefit from the team’s experience.

FABRICATION AND SUPPLY – With sites in both Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark, JTC boasts a 12,000 sqm fabrication area between the two. All facilities comply with ISO 9001:2015 and SAIW requirements.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT – JTC’s experience in design, fabrication, supply, and installation in more than 15 countries enables it to meet client objectives.

TRANSPORTATION – JTC has transported PEBs to some of the most remote locations across Africa.

ON-SITE CONSULTATION – With a hands-on approach, JTC provides practical solutions to ensure the successful execution of client projects. Qualified engineers and project managers manage site activities.

INSTALLATION – JTC is an expert in PEB, hybrid, and structural steel frame building, design, supply, and construction.

ROOF FLASHINGS – JTC supplies Colorplus/Zincal and Chromadek/Galvanised steel metal roof flashings in various lengths and thicknesses.

In South Africa, JTC has completed work on a flagship data centre project in Cape Town that has seen the company supply and install around 150 t of structural steel inside an existing concrete framed structure.

“The successful completion of this data centre confirms our ability to execute brownfield structural steel projects within very confined parameters and safety requirements,” he divulges.

JTC’s Project Nelson activities

were vast, such as the supply and installation of 10,000 sqm of roof sheeting and 8,000 sqm of insulated wall façade panels.

These panels were imported from Dubai in around 40 shipping containers, which involved extensive logistical planning and freight coordination.

“At peak construction, we had over 50 staff, made up of subcontractors and direct employees, working on the project to ensure its timely delivery,” Oosthuizen says.

Project Nelson has cemented JTC’s reputation as a leader within the insulated panel façade industry and confirmed its ability to take on large projects within a tight timeframe.

“Proper planning ensured continuity on site, and the successful completion of the project reinforces our ability to scale our teams to the correct and required sizes,” he asserts.

FORWARD THINKING

As JTC looks forward to a year filled with prosperity, it anticipates new and exciting projects across Africa.

“In Zambia, we’ve just started a few projects and have more in the pipeline for the year ahead. We believe Zambia will remain prosperous for us in 2024 and beyond,” Oosthuizen declares.

Elsewhere, the company anticipates the opening of a new shopping centre complex in Mauritius, which is due to

commence in February 2024.

“We’ve successfully completed a number of structural steel projects on the island over the past few years, and we look forward to commencing this project,” he excites.

In addition, a data centre project in Midrand, South Africa will see JTC supply structural steel for all the internal walls and ceilings.

Although JTC has an extremely

successful track record of executing small, medium, and large construction projects, the company still faces considerable reticence from some engineers, architects, and contractors.

“Because we’re a relatively new and young company, especially when compared to some of our more experienced competitors within the market, our ability to take on certain projects gets questioned.”

Thus, JTC’s goal for the future is to continue to complete its upcoming developments to a high standard and consistently exceed client expectations to enhance its reputation for excellence within the industry.

“We will invest further in additional new plants and equipment to ensure we can continue to deliver projects on time and increase our capacity,” Oosthuizen concludes.

Tel: +27 (0)16 100 1533 marketing@jtcbuildings.com jtcbuildings.com