J Schipper & Sons

General information

The Company was founded in 1954 by Jan Schipper, a Dutch engineer who immigrated to South Africa in 1953. Joined by his elder son Hendrik Roelof Schipper in 1958, the Company moved to its present location in 1961 where a workshop building was erected. HR Schipper qualified as an artisan armature winder in 1965 after successfully completing his trade test at the Oliphantsfontein training centre.
With better facilities the Company grew until further extensions were required by 1977. Jan Schipper’s daughter, Margien Human, had joined the Company in 1976, and his younger son Oeno joined in 1978. The Company was handed down from J Schipper to HR Schipper in 1979, when the Company was also formally registered as a private company.

The Company continued to grow through the 1980’s, with a number of apprentices being trained during the 70’s and 80’s. Oeno Schipper and Margien Human left the Company during that time, and Jan Schipper sadly also passed away in 1986.
This left HR Schipper with the responsibility of running the Company on his own until he was joined by his eldest son Rudi in 1993, who had by then graduated from the University of Cape Town with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering.
The arrival of Rudi Schipper prompted a process of renovation and modernisation, which was further boosted by the arrival of his brother Leon in 1995, who had also completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering. In 1997 a significant and long overdue extension to the building was started and this was completed by early 1998, doubling the available workspace as well as adding offices and staff facilities. The increased space allowed improvements in quality and productivity in the workshop, while administrative and financial efficiency were also improved, with Leon Schipper completing his Bachelor of Commerce Degree at the University of Stellenbosch in 2001. Rudi Schipper and Leon Schipper both became shareholders and Directors of the Company in March 1998.

In November 1999, J Schipper & Sons was appointed as Authorised Service Agents of The Lincoln Electric Company, the world leader in welding technology, having met all the necessary technical, space and financial resources requirements to carry out factory warranty repairs and equipment certifications.

On 28 February 2002, J Schipper & Sons officially entered its third generation when Rudi Schipper and Leon Schipper each acquired 50% share in the business. The Company continues to benefit from the knowledge and experience of HR Schipper, who remains with the Company as a technical consultant and managerial employee.

On 27 April 2006, the Company moved to its new premises in Stikland Industria after 45 years at the old premises. This significant move was necessary as the old premises had become far too small for the still-growing business, and also because of the commercialisation and resulting increase in traffic congestion in the Oakdale area.
The new premises provide better access, parking and loading facilities for customers, as well as space for additional equipment and more productive workflow within the workshop. Furthermore, additional offices and storage space will allow for better management and quality control, thereby improving the quality of service provided to customers. Working conditions of staff have also been improved, and the Company envisions further empowering employees through Skills Development and Black Economic Empowerment.

Sadly HR Schipper past away August 2015.

It is envisioned that J Schipper & Sons will continue to follow in the proud tradition of the preceding generations, retaining those philosophies and practices that have distinguished and differentiated the Company, while also building and improving on those aspects that will ensure that the Company continues to keep pace with the rapidly-changing environment and thereby continue to meet the requirements of its Customers far into the future.