BT Industrial showcases its capabilities at the Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference

BT Industrial, a pioneering science and engineering company specialising in the design and manufacturing of HDPE pipes and water treatment plants, stresses that industrialisation is a crucial pillar in unlocking South Africa’s economic growth and job creation.

Mekgwe Mfolo, CEO BTI – Engineering & Pipe Systems, reinforces the need to create a conducive environment for black industrialists to thrive and advance the next wave of industrialisation, not only in South Africa, but in Africa at large.

BT Industrial stresses that African policymakers should consider pro-industrialisation policies to enhance trade among African governments and ultimately improve economic growth and create employment. The Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference, says Mfolo, provides an empowering platform for black industrialists such as BT Industrial to drive this message home.

“The significance of black industrialists in Africa’s next industrial revolution cannot be stated enough,” says Mfolo. “Platforms like the Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference are a reminder that we have home grown talent and capabilities to meet Africa’s developmental goals. At BT Industrial, we believe we have a major role to play in industrialising South Africa and Africa at large and contribute to the global industrial revolution.”

Taking place on 18-20 March at the Sandton Convention Centre, the Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference celebrates excellence and innovation in business, highlighting enterprises that exemplify success through job creation, ethical practices and quality products – areas where BT Industrial leads from the front.

To provide context, within a few years of its existence, BT Industrial has heeded the call to support job creation in the country. Having commenced operations with a staff complement of just 10 people some five years ago, the company now employs in excess of 200 people, and counting.

Quality underpins all the activities at BT Industrial. The importance of quality in the company’s manufacturing processes goes beyond providing the consumer with a product they can trust. In fact, quality is a holistic endeavour that affects all parts of the business, including compliance, risk management, product assurance and consistency. To this end, compliance is a tenet of quality control, which is why BT Industrial’s facility is one of the first pipe manufacturing factories to be ISO 9001 accredited.

“Quality for us is non-negotiable. We employ a rigorous quality management regime guided by the ISO 9001 quality management systems. Implementing ISO 9001 means our organisation has put in place effective processes and trained staff to deliver flawless products and services time after time,” explains Mfolo.

That exports have an important part to play in raising South Africa’s overall growth performance is no overstatement. Mfolo believes that black industrialists such as BT Industrial hold the key to restoring South Africa’s export growth. A bigger portion of the company’s products is destined for export markets such as the DRC, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, amongst others.

BT Industrial’s commitment to the region is evident through its investment in the newly established BT-Zambia offices based in Lusaka, Zambia. By establishing a factory, the company aims to support Zambia’s developmental goals and bolster local capacity.