Axsys Projects aspires to growth in challenging economic climate

Axsys Projects aspires to growth in challenging economic climate

The relationship between Stefanutti Stocks and black-woman owned construction company Axsys Projects began in 2012, just one year after Halga Ninow-Cohen established the company in 2011. After five years of being a strategic enterprise development (ED) partner, Axsys then moved out of the ED programme in 2017, into the Voluntary Rebuild Programme (VRP) to become a VRP partner to Stefanutti Stocks.

Projects
The relationship continues to grow from strength-to-strength, and 2018 has seen the two companies working together on a number of contracts – within the mining, the building and the civils sphere. In addition to working with various Stefanutti Stocks divisions in joint venture, Axsys has tendered for, and been awarded, a number of projects in its own right, including remedial work at thirty-one healthcare facilities in the Northern Cape’s ZF Mgcawu region.

“Currently, there are not many projects coming to market, and we’re really hoping that some of the contracts we have tendered for will be awarded soon,” says Geoff Thompson, managing director of Axsys Projects. “At the moment we are working on approximately ten projects – almost double what we had in 2017. Our site staff has grown in accordance with the demand on our projects, and we are pleased to have a number of experienced industry professionals on our payroll.”

Among a number of projects being undertaken in joint venture with Stefanutti Stocks Building KZN is the contract for the construction of the new Nedbank Park Square – a mixed-use development for Nedport Developments in Umhlanga. This was the first project acquired in joint venture with Stefanutti Stocks Building KZN and was also the first project awarded after joining the VRP.

Further joint ventures with Stefanutti Stocks Building KZN and emerging contractor Botani include three projects for Mercedes Benz South Africa (MBSA) in East London – an ASRS Sorter project as well as two other design and construction projects:

  • Building 34’s Logistics Building – comprising the demolition and removal of an existing building and its infrastructure, and the construction of a new 16 800m2 logistics building and associated infrastructure.
  • J-site logistics Building – comprising the construction of a new logistics building with both good accessibility for suppliers and a good connection to the assembly plant. Also forming part of the project are a new “Gate 2” entrance with external facilities.

A further project at MBSA’s East London site includes the design and construct contract for the MBSA Body Shop, awarded to a joint venture between Stefanutti Stocks Building KZN, Axsys Projects and Simunye. The project entails repurposing the existing approximately 27 000m2 logistic building and bodyshop (F4) and comprises the demolition and relocation of existing buildings as well as the construction of a two-level extension covering a 45 700m2 area and connecting to the existing F4 building.

Axsys Projects is undertaking a number of mining contracts, in addition to the building projects. One of these is a joint venture with the Roads, Pipelines & Earthworks division which includes earthworks for four pollution-control dams at the Klipspruit Colliery in Ogies, Mpumalanga. A further mining sector joint venture, with Stefanutti Stocks Civils, is the civil construction of the GG6 substation buildings for Exxaro in Lephalale. “Our project portfolio is diverse and sees us working side-by-side with many Stefanutti Stocks stalwarts,” says Thompson. “The kind of projects we are participating in also makes us an attractive employer, for both experienced workers and newcomers to the industry.”

Highlights
A highlight during 2018 included the celebration of the company’s first year in its new offices in Protec Park. A further milestone saw Stefanutti Stocks procure twenty per cent shareholding in Axsys Projects.

Axsys people
The company’s support services team is small with additional forty site-based staff on the company’s payroll. “It would be fantastic if we could double this number in a year’s time and celebrate our second birthday alongside a healthy spurt of growth,” concludes Thompson.