The Trellidor story is a truly South African one. Yes, it’s rooted in the need to keep people safe from crime at home and work. But it’s also a story about invention, hard work, and the vision to expand into other markets. Follow our journey from Durban to the world.
Crime is universal and not just a South African problem. In 1996 Trellidor retractable gates were already established as a well-known reliable barrier to crime. These gates were recommended by security experts as the most viable solution to prevent robbery in homes and businesses.
One reason was the driving force in Trellidor culture of ‘we will never compromise on your security’. Product development has always been influenced by this customer promise. Trellidor produces barriers that can be trusted to do the expected job. This job is to be strong and resilient under criminal attack.
A Trellidor barrier became the first choice for South Africans looking for security. It was not just about the quality of the barriers produced by the factory. It was also about the high level of customer service before, during, and after the sale.
Thirty years ago the Trellidor international journey began. Retail and commercial crime was rising in many countries. Trellidor sliding gates were shipped to customers in Australia, Israel, the UK, Portugal, and Mauritius. Closer to home, we expanded into Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Namibia.
Businesses in other countries often demand high standards of their suppliers. It can be hard to prove that your products can perform as expected. Buyers don’t simply take your word for it. Trusted certification is one way to enable international trade. But getting this type of product recognition is time consuming. It is also expensive, so manufacturers tend to avoid it.
The Trellidor team decided to work towards international certification. The intention was to continue to grow the company through international expansion. The process began in the 1990’s with an ISO listing through the London-based Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB). This quality management system is trusted worldwide.
This was followed by product certification through the LPCB. We worked closely with customers around the world to establish what they needed in a security barrier. Then we designed and manufactured products to meet these needs. These were independently attack tested against international standards. And finally, certified by the LPCB team.
Today, certified Trellidor security barriers are installed around the world. These include high risk public spaces like the London Underground and vulnerable shopping centres. Our products protect embassy staff homes, offices in volatile countries, and international retail chain stores including Sainsbury’s.
The investment in international certification benefits households. Families don’t need anything as strong as certified gates in their homes. But it’s reassuring to know that the lessons learned through certification are applied to the entire Trellidor range, including barriers installed in homes.
Company growth has also come through product development. Our engineers have designed pioneering products to fight the worldwide surge in retail crime. Another driver of change and growth has been the changing residential market. Many people today prefer see-through security or barriers that are not obviously a security product.
Trellidor introduced innovative designs to the local market. We were the first to produce security screens tailored to South African needs. We redesigned polycarbonate burglar bars into an attractive window barrier. And we broke new ground with louvre shutters that double up as security barriers.
Significant investment in the Durban factory allowed the company to flourish. The processing plant has been continuously expanded and upgraded for new product lines. The world-class powder coating facilities include anti-corrosion processing.
Production changes reflect increased environmental impact awareness. A Reverse Osmosis plant treats wastewater and makes the production process cleaner and greener. Photo Voltaic solar panels reduces the company’s energy footprint for future generations. And the modern powder coating process reduces waste.
People are the bedrock of our organisation. We have invested in training for personal development and for competency in any new production changes. Our training programs reach right across the board. This includes staff members at our numerous franchises in RSA and around the world.
Trellidor has thrived in the highly competitive international market. Our sliding gates, louvre shutters, security screens, roller shutters, and burglar bars for windows are available throughout Africa, the Indian Ocean Islands, the Middle East, the UK, Ireland, Australia, Europe and the USA.
But we never forget our local roots. We may be charting new frontiers around the globe, but we remain Proudly South African. Our small, Durban-based private enterprise grew big enough to be listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 2015. In 2024 we’re represented internationally, but we remain based in our home town of Durban.
We’ll always put our customers first. Whether they’re multi-national businesses or a single suburban household, our aim is to keep people safe wherever they are. Visit our website
