Meet the Made of Steel Contractor Challenge Top 10
This year, the Made of Steel Challenge opened its doors to a whole new category: the Contractor Challenge. It was built for the people who work with steel for a living, the ones who turn up on site, take the measurements and put up the carports, driveway gates, security gates, fencing and structures that South Africans rely on every day. Big job or small, these are the builders whose work stands in plain sight, and we wanted to put it in the spotlight. Entries are judged on the skill and execution the job demanded, not on how big it was.
Being new, we didn't know what to expect. What came in blew us away.
The quality of the work was phenomenal. Clean welds, sharp lines, smart engineering and a real pride in the finish showed up in project after project. Some entries were beautifully simple, and others were ambitious builds that pushed steel further than we imagined. Every one showed the care of a tradesperson who treats each job as a point of pride.
Seeing the response to a brand-new category was one of the highlights of this year's challenge.
Choosing just ten from so many standout entries was not easy. Every contractor who entered showed what real craftsmanship looks like, and we're grateful to each of you for trusting us with your work.
Now, here are the ten Contractor Challenge entries that rose to the top.
Pieter Breedt | 10th Place
Excavator Drill Rig
19 Points
An excavator is used as base for the drillrig.
The stick, bucket and counterweight is removed. In the place of the counterweight the chassis is extended using channel and sheet metal. The compressor stands on this platform.
The drilltower is fitted in the place of the stick and bucket using sheet metal, hollow bar, angle iron, flatbat, channel, square tubing, round bar and more. Walkway grid and railing is installed around the machine for safety.
The hydraulics of the excavator and drillrig is then integrated with each other.
Johan Gouws
Coffee Shop Staircase & Deck
19 Points
The client wanted something else and that is what I did.
The project material I used was regtanguler tubing and angle iron with the pro steel black from your range of paints.
The whole project was build on top of a container in Three Rivers Vereeniging.
Wickus De Koker
Mthonjaneni Multiplex Sports Centre – Grandstand
19 Points
As part of the upgrade of the Mthonjaneni Multiplex Sports Centre in Melmoth, a new large-scale steel grandstand was designed, fabricated and constructed to provide a durable spectator facility for the local community and sporting events.
The grandstand measures approximately 25 metres long, 4 metres wide and 5 metres high and required extensive structural steel fabrication, precision welding and on-site installation.
The structure was fabricated using a range of structural steel sections, including 154 × 154 × 50 H-beams, IPE 200 sections, lip channels, 60 × 60 × 6 mm angle iron, 150 × 175 × 20 × 3 mm sections, 175 × 65 lip channels, and 144 mm and 88.9 mm diameter round tubing with 4 mm wall thickness, among other steel components.
A significant portion of the steel materials used in the project was supplied by NJR Steel. Once fabrication was completed, the steelwork was hot-dip galvanised in Durban to provide long-term corrosion protection and durability.
The project presented a substantial fabrication and welding challenge due to the size and structural requirements of the grandstand. The completed structure forms part of the upgraded sports centre and will provide a safe and lasting facility for the Mthonjaneni community.
Maurice Kenny
Mobile Ferrowing Unit
19 Points
Being in the farming community and growing up on farms, I one day woke up with a idea off building something for the upcoming and developing farmer.
Someone who is renting a farm or piece of land and would like to go the green way and not spend millions on permanent structure, whereby when the owner of the farm or land sells, it has to go with the property.
So I also thought what is the struggle in pig farming and how can I make it better , more affordable, saving time/labor/enviroment and it all adds up to saving money.
I build it from the ground up, no drawings, only hand made ones I have now.
There is no one in Africa who fabricates these at all. Only me. Hand built myself, from ground up to installing.
Deon Heerlall | 6th Place
Storm Racing (Rooftop Steel & Glass Pavilion)
20 Points
I started with an idea of building a model truck as close to the original truck as possible and then started using off-cut material bought from NJR Middelburg for other private projects and created my truck with the low-bed trailer.
I only worked on it when I got time because of my permanent position as a boiler maker, and my private projects part-time, it took me 18 months to finish.
Riaan Du Plessis
Imbokodo Concrete Beast
20 Points
A locally designed and manufactured heavy-duty concrete recycling crusher developed by Ekuthuleni Manufacturing.
Designed to tackle the challenges of construction and demolition waste, the machine crushes waste concrete and rubble into smaller, reusable aggregate.
By transforming concrete waste into a potential resource, IMBOKODO provides a practical approach to reducing waste, transportation and disposal while supporting sustainable construction practices.
Materials(Steel) used: Mostly used - 8mm,16mm & 30mm hot rolled plates, 100*100*6mm SquareTube. Other: 2mm HR plate, Mesh
Le Roux White
Huis Schabort - Sunset Village Lekwena Potchefstroom
20 Points
Johan Schabort wanted a family home that feels grounded and timeless from the road, yet open and full of light inside. He chose a simple gabled farm barn reimagined in brick and steel, with 11.5 tonnes of structural steel at its core.
IQON Developments was the main contractor and handled the civil works, plumbing and trade coordination. Metal Trading fabricated and erected the steel and installed the roof.
The home is a cluster of steep-pitched gabled volumes joined by a central entrance portico, with slim charcoal steel columns standing proud of the unplastered face brick. Exposed steel rafters and deep I-beams span the open-plan entertainment area, so there are no internal columns and the views of the hills stay open. The signature gable is left partly open to form a double-volume outdoor room, and a black steel chimney rises through the roof.
NJR Steel Pretoria East and Potchefstroom supplied a major part of the material. They surveyed the roof and rolled the sheets to measure for a clean installation. They also supplied and installed over 215m² of speed frames for a double-storey loft in one flank.
Steel allowed the wide spans, open gables and slim profiles, and it was quicker to erect and could be prefabricated off site. Black steel against warm brick gives the home its look.
Louis Bootha
Metaalboer Agricultural Conveyer
20 Points
In our area the chicken farmers are in need of conveyors to remove their manure.
The Metaalboer team designs and builds mobile conveyors for their needs.
The challenge is, light weight, easy to handle, but strong and safe.
A hydraulic lift with burst protection valves, and foldable wheels was one solution.
We also designed head and tail pulleys with specific features, to prevent the belt from slipping away, to prevent debris buildup between the belt and the pulleys, and a convex design to ensure a troughing form of the belt.
Another great feature is the wheels that fold down, that the 1000 kg conveyor can be handled by one person, on a cement floor.
NJR materials used:
IPE's, Angeles, Sheeting, Rec. tubing.
We also asked NJR to laser cut a lot of the components, what a great service !
Everybody is happy with the end product.
Derek Britz
Icing Sugar Production Plant
20 Points
I was contacted by the client to build an Icing Sugar Production Plant.
I designed the plant to suit the building and after approval proceeded with the CAD drawings for the Plant.
The Plant equipment included the following:
- Steel Structure with Work platform to accommodate the Icing Mill(Buy-out)
- Stainless Steel Sugar Feed Bin with S/Steel Screw Conveyor
- Work platform for Sugar Bin
- Total Receiver with Filter System with Work platform to replace Filter Bags
- Agitator with Rotating Paddles for accumulation of Icing Sugar
- Two Stainless Steel Screw Conveyors for the bagging of Icing Sugar
- Two Pneumatic Bagging Slides
- Gantry for Overhead Hoist to Lift Bulk Sugar Bags
All the above equipment was build in-house by myself with the help of 9 additional people in three months. The installation was also done by us.
Steel was used for approximate 98% of the Plant and was all supplied with the professional assistance of Dolf Harms by NJR STEEL BRITS.
Geoff Howard-Tripp
The Sugar Mill Bridge
20 Points
📖 Project Description
The Sugar Mill Bridge designed was adapted and refined, then constructed by Geoff Howard‑Tripp and his rigging team at Margate Engineering as a landmark steel structure in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu‑Natal. Built to connect critical access routes near the sugar mill, the bridge demonstrates both engineering precision and practical functionality.
The project required integrating heavy‑duty steel beams with reinforced supports to withstand high traffic loads and environmental exposure. Its design balances strength with simplicity, ensuring long‑term durability while serving the local community’s transport and industrial needs.
🔧 Steel Story
Steel was the backbone of this project. From the primary load‑bearing girders to the cross‑bracing and decking supports, every element relied on steel’s unmatched strength and versatility. The choice of steel allowed for:
Structural integrity: Capable of handling heavy vehicles and industrial machinery.
Longevity: Resistant to corrosion with protective coatings, ensuring decades of service.
Adaptability: Modular fabrication enabled efficient assembly on site.
This bridge is more than infrastructure — it’s a testament to how steel can transform landscapes and empower local industry.
🏆 Why It Matters
The Sugar Mill Bridge is not just a contractor’s project — it’s a community asset. It connects people, supports commerce, and showcases the enduring value of steel in South African engineering. Geoff Howard‑Tripp and the Margate Engineering Team’s work reflects innovation, craftsmanship, and a deep respect for steel as a material that builds futures.
