On July 1, 2020, KLINGER South Africa took over Thomas Pipe Products (TPP), a local leading company specializing in pipe repair clamps and couplings. TPP’s product range perfectly completes the KLINGER group’s portfolio.
Growth through acquisitions has been an international long-term strategy of the KLINGER corporation. For customers it means that they have access to an ever-growing amount of expertise and quality products – all under one roof. The South Africa branch alone has been involved in five acquisitions over the years. “We started off with Wright Seal and Plastics, then GC Baars – a valve company. Thereafter Fabcom and Furmanite were acquired,” explains Phillip Herbst, Managing Director of KLINGER SA.
Contacts mentioned in the article:
Luke Thomas, Founder of Thomas Pipe Products – now KLINGER Pipe Products
Johan Smal, Financial Director of KLINGER South Africa and Managing Director of KLINGER Pipe Products
Phillip Herbst, Managing Director of KLINGER South Africa
Only the best is good enough
Since 2012, KLINGER South Africa had been considering the addition of pipe repair clamps and couplings to their portfolio. And Johan Smal, Financial Director of KLINGER SA and duly appointed Managing Director of KLINGER Pipe Products, was determined to not just find any company: it had to be the right one. It was only in 2017 that first contact was made with Thomas Pipe Products, and they turned out to be exactly that: the right one!
TPP was founded by Luke Thomas in 2006 with just a few staff members. He turned the company into a very successful business that currently employs 100 people in two facilities, one in Honeydew and a smaller one in Cape Town. When approached by KLINGER, Luke Thomas was willing to negotiate, but similar to Johan Smal, would not sell his business to just anyone! There was immediately a lot of mutual understanding and trust.
On July 1, 2020, the transaction was finally concluded and TPP became KLINGER Pipe Products (KPP). “Now we have pipe couplings and pipe repair clamps on board. This is very exciting as we see the product range that Thomas Pipe Products adds to the existing portfolio is in perfect synergy with what we already offer,” says Phillip Herbst. “We really look forward to introducing the range to all the KLINGER companies globally and taking the products to the world.”
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
In which products is KLINGER Pipe Products specialized?
KPP’s products will be just the right solution for supplying clean drinking water to every citizen.
To which countries does KLINGER Pipe Products supply?
Through the KLINGER Group, KPP quality products can now be easily acquired around the world. The extensive KLINGER branch and agent network in South Africa will make sure that other African countries now have access to these products, too (e.g. Zambia, DRC, Kenya, Tanzania).
