William Battershill started Discount Steel in May 1985 with a very modest R2,000 working capital. The one man business sold rejected tubing to farmers. Over the next 4 years, the product range was expanded to include light sections, which were purchased from the large steel merchants. The client base was shifted more towards light engineering works.

In 1989.

The company bought the rented premises which they occupied, facilitating an increase in stock holding. At this stage, certain products were sourced directly from the steel mills at much improved prices. In 1993 import of coil significantly increased volumes and profitability.  A cut-to-length line & a slitting line were installed in Pietermaritzburg to offer better service and flexibility to our clients.

In 1995 Garrison Steel was started in Gauteng to get a foot-hold in South Africa’s largest market. The business grew significantly and was in a position to purchase a suitable warehouse facility in Bosworth Street, Alrode in 2002.

Our African footprint started in 1997 with a branch in Lusaka, Zambia, followed by a second branch in Kitwe. In 2000, we set up a franchise in Lubumbashi, DRC, followed by a second franchise in Kolwezi and later that year a third franchise was set up in Harare Zimbabwe.