Wm Spilhaus specializes in all sectors of water supply equipment.
Photo: back row from the left, Keith Munro, Colin Langridge, Christo Zyl, Johan van der Merwe, Jaco Bester and Henry Skein. Front row from left are JP Louw, Pieter Marais, Wynand van Tonder, Hylton Frost and Martin Ferreira.
Inserts: Leon Erasmus Rassie Erasmus.
Mr. Arnold Wilhelm Spilhaus
Mr. Arnold Wilhelm Spilhaus had no clue that the shipping and Agricultural product export business he founded in October 1876, would reach such Incredible heights.
Spilhaus was a very ambitious man, but never in his wildest dreams could he have expected that his very small company, situated in a building in St. George Street, Cape Town, would grow and spread so quickly.
WmSpilhaus has been in existence for 137 years, and to appreciate the present we have to take a closer look at the past.
Spilhaus established himself for the first time in commercial practice with the firm W. A. Lippert and Company in Cape Town.
A meeting with Mr. Herbert Wilman, a partner in the firm PJ Alport and company in Beaufort West led to the establishment of the firm Wilman, Spilhaus and company, consisting of general stores, products and commission agents.
The company was run from a small building in St. George's Street in Cape Town.
Because of their success Wilman, Spilhaus and expanded at an alarming rate. They were forced to, after four years, to move to a bigger building on the corner of St. George and Castle Street.
Wilman retired and, after Spilhaus took over the firm, the offices moved to 58 Strand Street.
Export Trade was handled by the firm, and the main shipping product was wool.
Although they traded in other products such as buchu, hides, Luzern and grain, the ostrich feather industry required as much space as a whole floor in the building in
Strand Street and was devoted to sorting and dispatching of feathers.
It became increasingly clear that South Africa's agricultural industry, as
In other countries, was starting to become more mechanized.
Thus the company began importing agricultural tools, machinery and irrigation equipment to repair and to distribute.
Machinery for making roads was also imported and the company became well known for its engineering operations.
Meanwhile, their representatives where sent to Britain and America so that they could be informed of the latest agricultural tools and developments in engineering.
Eventually Wm Spilhaus was divided into an agricultural engineering division
and a division dealing in silver and glass.
With regard to agriculture, the focus shifted to water supply and irrigation, which today is
the heart of the business.
Spilhaus believed in maintaining a personal relationship with each staff member, general stores and clients. Also making sure that the principles of courtesy, fair service, concern for others and integrity was maintained deep within the company.
These principles still apply up until today and contribute generously to the success of the company.
In the past 137 years Wm Spilhaus had to face three wars and uncertain economy.
If Mr.Arnold Helmet Spilhaus could see his business as it stands now, he would have been very proud. Spilhaus has had a few respective owners over the years.
At a time the company was own by a large insurance company that is still in existence today.
In 1980, Spilhaus was taken over by WPK Irrigation’s arm in the agricultural
Industry. New branches opened in places like Pretoria (wholesale), Robertson, Upington, Kakamas, Vredendal and Kimberley. At the time Wm Spilhaus already had established businesses in Bellville, Ceres, DeDoorns, Malmesbury,
Montagu, Swellendam and Wolseley.
In 2002 WPK decided to sell Wm Spilhaus, after negotiations staff where given the
opportunity to buy the various businesses.
For various reasons, some of the divisions where not taken over, so the one’s that continued where , Wm Spilhaus Boland in Stikland, Bellville,
Wm Spilhaus Ceres, Wm Spilhaus Hex Valley De Doors, Wm Spilhaus Vredendal
Wm Spilhaus Malmesbury and Wm Spilhaus Wolseley.
After about a month, the new owners held a meeting and conclude that they did not want to let go of the name and culture of WmSpilhaus.
It was decided to establish WmSpilhaus group and Delta Irrigation in Swellendam was approached to join the group.
The group was there with suppliers to bargain for better prices, leading to the benefit of customer. The group also wanted to maintain their relationships with suppliers in order to create a win win situation for both parties, as well as the group's customers.
The group also compiled an electronic price book, which contributed to further their success even more.
The Wm Spilhausbrand was also repurchased and as in the past, was once again proudly displayed.
As time passed WmSpilhaus expanded even further and more and more enterprises
joined the group. The new enterprises included Wm Spilhaus Montagu, Wm Spilhaus Port Elizabeth, Wm Spilhaus Cradock and Wm Spilhaus Bloemfontein.
In the coming years the group plans to build on its success recipe in order to reach even greater heights.
Even better value for their customers and it is also their purpose to ad value to the South African agricultural industry in doing so.
WmSpilhaus still standing strong after 137 years