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Local manufacturing spotlight
drawings, site measurements and even Revit markups for clients,” explains Viljoen.
This commitment to service goes well beyond production.“ We assist with final fitments, last-mile measurements and can mark urgent jobs for immediate manufacturing if something changes on-site. That’ s part of our aftermarket support promise,” he adds.
Ductshop also provides in-house training via the BUTEC Academy, offering courses on safe gas handling, refrigeration principles and more.“ It’ s not just about training our staff. Clients like Trane send their technicians here for formal certifications,” says Viljoen.
“ All ducting is labelled and delivered in run sequence – A1 to A10, for example – so installation is efficient on-site.”
SERVING SA AND BEYOND While most of Ductshop’ s work serves the local commercial and industrial market – including retail malls, gyms, pharmaceutical facilities and mining sites – the company is also active in regional cross-border markets, particularly Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Eswatini.“ We’ re seeing a definite pickup in demand in Zimbabwe and Swaziland. There’ s continuous development, and we’ re ready for it,” says Viljoen.
Projects have included installations for data centres, power stations and large, regular corporate clients like MTN.“ We tender competitively, but our service and turnaround times often tip the balance in our favor,” Viljoen notes.
Ductshop differentiates itself through speed of delivery, a comprehensive stock of consumables and a service-first approach.“ We keep common jig-sized fittings in stock, allowing clients to place orders and collect within hours. And we don’ t just sell ducting. We supply the gaskets, sealants and clamps too – essentially a one-stop-shop for HVAC installers,” says Viljoen.
Ductshop is ISO 14001:2015 certified, with a strong focus on environmental management and workplace safety. Their ducting products are manufactured in compliance with SANS 1238:2005 standards, ensuring both quality and traceability.
Its experience in serving sensitive applications like pharmaceutical cleanrooms, chemical extraction systems and specialised HVAC retrofits speaks to their technical expertise and versatile product quality.
SCALING RESPONSIVELY TO DEMAND As order volumes increase, Ductshop has built flexibility into its workforce model.“ We scale with demand by bringing in qualified staff on short-term contracts. Because we’ ve been around for over 50 years, we have a reliable network of experienced tradespeople trained through past projects and our own systems,” explains Viljoen.
With an uptick in industry activity compared to the previous year, the company is also realigning some of its machinery and workflows to further boost efficiency. While they are not yet working with aluminium, their current scope includes galvanised, stainless, mild and black steel, covering virtually every ducting requirement in the industry.
Shown here is one of Ductshop’ s advanced welding processes. Using an extended-arm pin spot welder, the team prepares and joins segments with deep penetration welds, ensuring strong, durable, and long-lasting finished goods.
In a sector where lead times, accuracy and post-sale support can make or break a project, Ductshop has positioned itself as a dependable partner for HVAC and MEP contractors alike. From its centrally located Kempton Park facility, the company delivers fabricated ducting and full-system solutions at pace – backed by modern machinery, skilled staff and client-centric processes.
As South Africa’ s built environment continues to evolve, Ductshop’ s blend of tradition, technology and technical acumen puts it squarely in the frame as a leader in local manufacturing for the HVAC & R industry. RACA
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RACA Journal I November 2025 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za