Construction World March 2015

CONSTRUCTION WORLD

MARCH

2015

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Much of the company’s substan-

tial achievements can be credited

to the innovative approach of the

forward thinking Dr Mehran Zarre-

bini who has headed the company since the

family owned holding company PFE Interna-

tional purchased it from Belgian company

Domo Carpets in 2004.

Van Dyck was a perfect fit and perfectly

complemented the rest of PFE Internation-

al’s South African investment portfolio. It

also provided an opportunity to draw on its

more than 40 years of international expe-

rience in the manufacturing of carpets and

fibre and yarn extrusion.

Van Dyck is not only South Africa’s oldest

carpet manufacturer but the only one that

offers a combination of tufted, needle punch

and woven carpets. The company also

manufactures a range of acoustic underlays

made of recycled rubber crumb from used

truck tyres.

PFE International’s first investment was

a joint venture with textile group Ninian &

Lester in 1995. South African Polypropylene

Yarns (SAPY) is located in a 70 000 m

factory

in Hammarsdale and is a market leader

in the production of multi-filament poly-

propylene yarn for the textile, plastic and

construction industries.

Six years later, when the Zarrebini family

decided to relocate their UK based machine

extrusion and staple fibre manufacturing

operation, they again turned to South

Africa. They set up SAFYR in Hammarsdale

in conjunction with the Industrial Develop-

ment Corporation in 2001. The company

was sold in 2004 when PFE International

acquired Van Dyck.

Dr Zarrebini says Van Dyck was a good

fit. The company was struggling to contain

costs as most of its raw materials were

imported. They believed that, through

vertical integration, they could reduce

these and opened PFE Extrusion in

Hammarsdale in 2008 to provide fibre and

yarn for Van Dyck.

PFE International has invested around

R350-million in South Africa. Of this, R80-mil-

lion has been directed towards Van Dyck

to upgrade the old and poorly maintained

equipment they acquired and meet stringent

quality and environmental standards.

Despite tough economic conditions and

massive changes in its market, the company

has grown its market share to an estimated

25 to 30 percent. The choice of floor covering

is driven by fashion and he says many

consumers are opting for newly introduced

laminate floor and ceramic tiles.

In 2004, Van Dyck’s business was

split 50/50 between its residential and

commercial divisions. Since then, the ratio

has changed to 30/70 with sales into the

commercial and hospitality sectors proving

particularly resilient.

Van Dyck’s strong focus on sustaina-

bility and environmental efficiencies stands

it in good stead as large corporates favour

environmentally friendly materials to attain

Leading South African stone surface distributor,

International Slab Sales, has opened a branch in

Harare, Zimbabwe.

Supplier of top quality granite, marble, onyx and engineered stone

surfaces, International Slab Sales is the sole Southern African

wholesaler of Caesarstone, Café Quartz and Rudi’s Choice surfaces.

They also carry The Africa Range Namibian granite.

Market-leading engineered quartz surface, Caesarstone, will be

in supply, along with trending marble materials and a wide variety of

granite surfaces.

“International Slab Sales is bringing a wide variety of top quality prod-

ucts, and excellent service in stone trading to the Zimbabwean market,”

saysWhelan. “We are looking forward to bringing themost comprehensive

LAYING

the foundation for

INNOVATION

Van Dyck Carpets is leading the way when it comes to investing

in the latest equipment, new products and sustainable

manufacturing in South Africa.

green building certifications, says Zarrebini.

Van Dyck is both ISO 9001:2008 and

ISO 14001 accredited and, in 2013, became

one of just a handful of companies with

ISO 14064-1 accreditation, requiring annual

reports on greenhouse emissions. Zarrebini

has also set his sights set on implementing

an ISO 150001 energy management system

in conjunction with the United Nations with

the backing of the United Nations by 2015.

“We realise that there are a lot of oppor-

tunities, especially in terms of reduction of

costs and brand association. We see this as

an opportunity rather than as a threat,” he

says, adding that Van Dyck will be ahead of

its competitors when a planned carbon tax is

introduced in South Africa.

He adds that PFE International is

committed to South Africa for the long

term. “We are looking to expand further by

acquiring new equipment, introducing revo-

lutionary new products and growing existing

markets including exports.”

Already, Van Dyck sells to 20 countries and

intends focusing on growing markets in Africa.

“Creating an environment where outside

the box ideas are heard and taken seriously

unlocks innovation. When minorities form a

critical mass and leaders value differences,

creative, innovative and value-driving insights

are unleashed,” says Zarrebini.

PFE International intends to go this

route. The company employs more than 520

people and, with continued growth, intends

to create more jobs.

Dr Mehran Zarrebini, director of PFE International

is pictured in the Van Dyck Carpets factory.

HARARE BRANCH OPENED

selection of luxury and affordable stone surfaces to Zimbabweans for their

homes, commercial premises and construction developments,” he adds.

Although the branch has been open since August, the official launch

only took place on 18 February.