Page 26 -

MACHINERY FEATURE

LASHER TOOLS: A PROUDLY

SOUTH AFRICAN ICON

or the past 90 years, Lasher Tools has On 25 September 2019, Lasher hosted and private sectors. It encourages
played an important part in creating members of the media at its Wadeville businesses and individuals to procure
Fjobs and helping to build South factory as part of its 90th birthday all their consumables from local sources
Africa’s economy. With a history that celebrations. The event provided and local manufacturers. In the same
predates even Arcelor Mittal (formerly an opportunity to experience local way, large businesses are encouraged to
Iscor), Lasher started out as the African manufacturing at the coalface and to procure from small, local businesses and
Shovel Company, providing tools for understand why supporting local products PSA assists all its members to find access
Johannesburg’s gold rush. It has grown bolsters job creation and South Africa’s to new markets, and to trade with each
into a thriving manufacturer, producing economy. In addition, it showed the hard other.
a range of more than 1000 tools for the work that goes into manufacturing quality
mining, forestry, agricultural, construction, hand tools from engineering and design The PSA logo assists consumers to make
DIY and gardening sectors. through to the hardening and tempering local purchasing decisions based on the
of high grade steel for added strength and knowledge that products bearing the
Lasher is a South African company durability. logo have been vetted for local content
committed to creating employment and high quality. Consumers should look
and wherever possible, to upskilling its Proudly South African for a “Made in SA” label and choose local
employees. Proudly South African believes over imported goods. Buying locally
that “by choosing to buy local, we buy Proudly South African was founded in manufactured goods and services is a
back jobs and the future we are destined 2011 and is the country’s official ‘buy local’ recognised contributor to job retention
for”. To become a member, applicants must advocacy campaign. A registered NPO, and job creation.
adhere to the following criteria: it is partly funded by the Department of
• at least 50% of the cost of production Trade and Industry, but it also raises funds In August 2018, PSA launched
must be incurred in South Africa. Lasher through membership fees and ad hoc www.rsamade.co.za as its exclusive online
sources its steel and plastic locally and sponsorship. shopping store.
its tools are exclusively manufactured
at its three factories in Wadeville, Proudly SA’s mandate is to drive increased For further information contact Albert
Germiston and Ladysmith; levels of local procurement in the public Louw on 011 825 1100
• the product or service must be of
a proven high quality. Lasher is a
manufacturer of tough, reliable tools.
Its factories are ISO 9001 compliant
and no shortcuts are taken in the
manufacturing of its products. Raw
materials are high quality and processes
are followed according to a tried and
tested recipe. Lasher produces the only
SABS-accredited wheelbarrow;
• the company must be environmentally
responsible and adhere to production
processes that are environmentally
acceptable. Metal and plastic offcuts
are recycled and there is minimal waste
generated in Lasher’s ISO 9001 factories.
Lasher has produced the world’s first
recycled and recyclable Ecobarrow;
• the company must comply with
current labour legislation and adhere
to fair labour practices. Lasher is highly
committed to its staff and has a proud
history of longstanding employees,
many of whom have followed their
parents into employment at the
company. Lasher remains dedicated to
its mandate to boost the local economy
by growing the business from its
South African base, while extending its
export network to the rest of Africa, the
US,Europe and Australasia.
Ian Kendal, MD of Lasher Tools

24 Landscape SA • Issue 91 2019