When was Tooling founded?

Tooling was founded in 2008 in Struandale, Gqeberha, with a focus on supporting local machine shops and manufacturing customers.

What changed as the business grew?

The company expanded from core machining supply into services such as regrinding, inspection, presetting, scanner calibration and printer maintenance.

Which areas does Tooling serve?

Tooling serves Gqeberha and nearby industrial areas including Struandale, Markman, Coega, Kariega, Despatch and Port Elizabeth CBD, with supply support nationwide.

Our history | Tooling Gqeberha

2008: starting with practical machining support

Tooling opened in 2008 in Struandale with a simple brief: help local workshops get better results from the machines they already had. The first years were built around CNC tooling, workholding and day to day support for machine shops that needed accurate parts, shorter setup times and fewer costly mistakes.

At the start, the focus was on the basics that make a real difference on the floor. Correct tool holders, accurate collets, stable workholding and reliable setup advice gave customers a more consistent cut. In a market where every minute on a machine counts, that practical approach earned trust quickly.

Local support for Struandale, Markman and nearby industrial areas
Core supply of tool holders, collets and workholding systems
Hands on help for shops needing better setup accuracy

2010 to 2013: building a service culture

As more workshops came on board, Tooling expanded beyond supply and into the day to day services that keep equipment performing properly. Tool regrinding, holder cleaning, runout checks and presetting support helped customers extend tool life and reduce repeat errors. For many smaller workshops, that meant getting more value out of every batch and less down time between jobs.

These years also shaped the company’s service standards. Collection and delivery became part of the routine for customers in Gqeberha and surrounding areas, because production teams cannot always spare time to send parts out. It was not about volume for its own sake, but about being reliable when a job had to go back into production fast.

Tool regrinding and inspection for repeatable cutting performance
Holder cleaning and runout checks to improve accuracy
Presetting support for quicker changeovers on the shop floor

2014 to 2017: responding to a changing manufacturing market

By the middle of the decade, South African manufacturers were dealing with tighter lead times, more complex components and growing pressure to do more in house. Tooling responded by widening its range and strengthening its technical advice, especially for customers working on CNC machines across automotive, general engineering and precision manufacturing.

This period also saw greater attention to fixture control and setup repeatability. Chuck jaw machining and vise alignment became important services for shops wanting better part location and less variation between batches. For production teams in Coega, Despatch and Kariega, those small improvements often made the difference between a smooth shift and a costly rework job.

Expanded focus on precision tooling and setup control
Support for chuck jaw machining and vise alignment
Advice aimed at improving cycle times and part consistency

2018 to 2020: adding digital manufacturing tools

When 3D printing and scanning started playing a larger role in local manufacturing, Tooling added those solutions to its offering. The business did not move away from machining. Instead, it added tools that helped customers prototype faster, inspect parts more accurately and solve production problems with better information.

Scanner calibration and printer maintenance became part of the support model, alongside traditional workshop services. That mattered to engineering teams trying to keep new equipment productive through the ups and downs of load-shedding, heat and dusty industrial conditions. In coastal Gqeberha, even small changes in temperature and humidity can affect performance, so practical maintenance support became essential.

3D printing and scanning solutions added to the range
Scanner calibration for accurate measurement work
Printer maintenance to keep systems running through busy production periods

2021 to 2023: stronger reach across the Eastern Cape and beyond

As Tooling’s customer base grew, so did its reach. The company continued serving Struandale and the greater Gqeberha industrial area while supporting machine shops in Port Elizabeth CBD, Coega, Markman, Kariega and Despatch. From one-off tool supply to ongoing technical support, the relationship with customers became more long term and more specialised.

By this stage, the team was also working with a wider set of industries and production sizes, from small jobbing shops to larger operations with repeat requirements. Customers valued being able to speak to people who understand spindle speeds, concentricity, holder wear and the pressure of missed delivery dates. That kind of support keeps workshops moving when margins are tight and downtime is expensive.

Nationwide supply support from Gqeberha
Regular service to machine shops in industrial and CBD locations
Technical support for both small workshops and larger production lines

Today: a team built around accuracy and service

Today Tooling operates from Struandale under the leadership of Morne van der Merwe, with a team built around technical knowledge and straightforward customer service. Ayanda Mhlabeni manages sales, Johan Bester supports applications, Zanele Nkomo handles 3D solutions, Ridwaan Jacobs coordinates service, and Nokulunga Dlamini leads customer support. Together they keep the focus on practical outcomes rather than unnecessary complexity.

The company’s history is really a record of steady growth through consistent service. Customers still come to Tooling for tool holders, collets and workholding systems, but they also rely on the workshop services that keep machines accurate and production ready. In a manufacturing environment where every micron matters, that combination of supply, support and local knowledge continues to be the reason customers stay with Tooling year after year.

One team covering sales, applications, service and support
Ongoing workshop services including regrinding, inspection and collection delivery
Support for South African manufacturers who need accurate, practical solutions

Our history