Buy cheap at huge risk !
By Sebastian Sierra , operations manager
FEATURE 21
Plumbing Africa posed some questions to Sebastian Sierra of Railman Grabrails , a local manufacturer based in Johannesburg . This is the second in our series on local manufacture .
Briefly describe the start of the company up to this point ? Railman Grabrails started on a high note . During the foundation phase of the business was during the 2010 World Cup . This was one year prior to the official opening .
Consequently , hotels , event venues and stadiums focused on renovation to accommodate for tourists . Buildings were evaluated and did not meet disability and accessibility
Sebastian Sierra , operations manager .
requirements , which led to an increase in the installation of grabrails in disabled bathrooms . With that strong start , the company was able to use this capital to grow into the Railman we know today .
Management Team – Simon Radebe , Gertrude Sierra , Sebastian Sierra .
All images by Plumbing Africa Rory Macnamara
What attracted the founders to this specialist industry ? Railman Grabrails was originally supplying grabrails to the disabled community under the name Chairman Industries , a wheelchair and mobility aids supplier . The drive for accessibility in the disabled community led to the forming of Railman as its own company .
The company became known in the plumbing and construction industries as it began to supply contractors more than individual disabled persons . Chairman Industries has focused on making the lives of people living with disability easier and more accessible . This does not just include wheelchairs .
Acid wash after welding .
Thus , accessibility in the home , work and any other premises needs to come to the fore when considering projects which require accessibility for disabled persons .
There is a view that imports are cheaper than local . How do you respond to this view ? If the import item matches the quality of locally manufactured , we have found minor differences in price per item . However , one would be laying out more capital to import large container amounts and carry higher stock levels as opposed to purchasing from local suppliers .
Pipe bending ensuring no wrinkles at the bend .
We have seen a drastic price difference in imported goods compared to locally manufactured products where the quality is lower .
In our specific market , quality is extremely important as our products are continually exposed to high moisture and bacteria levels in bathrooms and therefore need to be manufactured using high quality
Polishing .
October 2022 Volume 28 I Number 8 www . plumbingafrica . co . za