S A Metal Group
S A Metal Group is South Africa's oldest and largest metal recycler, founded in 1919. The four-generation family-owned company purchases, processes and manufactures ferrous and non-ferrous metals across scrap collection, steel, copper and aluminium production, waste management and demolition in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1919
- HeadquartersCape Town, South Africa
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What S A Metal Group does
S A Metal Group (legal entity: SA Metal Group (Pty) Ltd.) is a privately held, four-generation family-owned metal recycling and manufacturing enterprise founded in 1919 in Cape Town by Wolfe Barnett. It is self-described as South Africa's oldest and largest metal recycling company, with a 5,001–10,000 employee base and operations centered in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria. The core business purchases, collects, and processes ferrous metals (iron and steel) and non-ferrous metals (aluminium, copper, zinc, stainless steel, lead, nickel, brass, tin and bronze) from industrial enterprises, public entities, scrap dealers and private individuals, generating revenue through the spread between scrap purchase prices and downstream sale of processed metal and manufactured products.
The company's operating model is vertically integrated. Upstream, it runs scrap collection yards equipped with calibrated weighbridges, CCTV surveillance, and processing equipment for sorting, shearing, shredding, torch-cutting, granulating and baling. Downstream, three manufacturing divisions convert recycled feedstock into finished goods: SA Steelworks (steel billets, reinforcing bar, round and square bar from 100% recycled scrap, produced via energy-saving electric induction furnaces, arc ladle refining and continuous casting); SA Copperworks (rectangular, square and round busbars, coiled copper rods and strip, paper-covered copper strip for the transformer industry); and SA Aluworks (aluminium alloys from 100% recycled scrap). Adjacent service lines include Real Steel (retail and distribution of prime and reusable steel products in Epping 2, Cape Town), Waste Control (a fleet of compactor, skip and roll-on-roll-off vehicles for waste removal in Western Cape and on-request in Gauteng), and Demolition & Rehabilitation (industrial and mining demolition including radiological decontamination and asbestos handling, enabled by National Nuclear Regulator registration).
The business model is multi-stream: transaction-fee scrap purchasing and processing, one-time hardware sales of manufactured billets/bars/alloys and retail steel, professional services for waste removal and demolition, and export sales of surplus billet capacity. GTM is sales-led, executed through direct field purchasing teams, scrap yard drop-offs, a 0861 SA METAL hotline, WhatsApp, and a website-based collection booking system. Marketing relies heavily on the 107-year brand and word-of-mouth referrals rather than paid acquisition. Ownership remains with the founding Barnett family through the fourth generation (joined 2012); no external institutional investors, parent company or public listing is indicated.
S A Metal Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- S A Metal Group
- Legal name
- SA Metal Group (Pty) Ltd.
- Website
- https://sametal.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1919
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- S A Metal Group is South Africa's oldest and largest metal recycler, founded in 1919. The four-generation family-owned company purchases, processes and manufactures ferrous and non-ferrous metals across scrap collection, steel, copper and aluminium production, waste management and demolition in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
S A Metal Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Metal Recycling and Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Secondary Smelting and Alloying of Aluminum (331314), Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing (3314), Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing (33111)
- SIC
- Secondary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3341)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Metals Recycling & Processing (Ferrous/Non-Ferrous) (BPALADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Scrap Metal Collection, Logistics & Aggregation (Yards, Roll-off, Container Programs) (IMAKAMAK), Industrial & Manufacturing Scrap Recycling (Factory Scrap, Turnings, Offcuts) (IMAKAMAE), Non-Ferrous Scrap Processing & Brokerage (Aluminum, Copper, Brass/Bronze, Lead, Zinc, Nickel) (IMAKAMAB)
Keywords
Where S A Metal Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cape Town
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices10 records
Markets served
S A Metal Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Scrap Metal Purchasing and Processing: Purchase, collect, and process all forms of ferrous metals (iron and steel) and non-ferrous metals (aluminium, copper, zinc, stainless steel, lead, nickel, brass, tin, bronze) from industrial enterprises, public entities, scrap metal dealers, and private individuals. Revenue generated through sale of processed scrap to domestic and export markets.
- Manufacturing Operations: SA Steelworks manufactures steel billets, reinforcing bar, round and square bar and custom-produced steel bars from 100% recycled scrap steel. SA Copperworks produces copper busbars, rods, and strip. SA Aluworks manufactures aluminium alloys. Products sold domestically and for export.
- Real Steel Product Sales: Real Steel division stocks and sells prime steel, reusable steel and ancillary products ranging from channels and angles to welding equipment, catering to large engineering contractors and DIY customers.
- Waste Control Services: Waste removal and management services in Western Cape and Gauteng, operating specialized waste collection vehicles and managing disposal at registered landfill facilities.
- Demolition Services: Industrial and mining demolition and rehabilitation services including decontamination of radiological hazards, full site clean-ups and land rehabilitation.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
S A Metal Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SA Metal Group purchases, collects, and processes ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals (iron, steel, aluminium, copper, zinc, stainless steel, lead, nickel, brass, tin, bronze) from industrial enterprises, public entities, scrap dealers, and private individuals through its yards in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Pretoria. Downstream, its manufacturing divisions (SA Steelworks, SA Copperworks, SA Aluworks) transform 100% recycled scrap into steel billets, reinforcing bar, copper busbars and strip, and aluminium alloys sold domestically and abroad. Complementary services include Real Steel retail, Waste Control collection, and Demolition & Rehabilitation.
Product overview
SA Metal Group operates as a diversified metal recycling and manufacturing enterprise with a portfolio of integrated divisions. The core business focuses on purchasing, collecting, and processing ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Downstream divisions value-add through manufacturing: SA Steelworks produces steel billets and bars from recycled scrap, SA Copperworks manufactures copper busbars and strip, and SA Aluworks produces aluminium alloys. Supporting services include Real Steel (steel product distribution), Waste Control (waste management), and Demolition & Rehabilitation. The group also provides specialized collection services for vehicles, household goods, and commercial equipment, all supported by public weighbridge facilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SA Steelworks Manufactures steel billets, reinforcing bar, round and square bar, and custom-produced steel bars from 100% recycled scrap steel using energy-saving electric induction furnaces and arc ladle furnace refining, continuously cast into billets and rolled into final products compliant with SANS specifications; serves domestic and export customers.
- SA Copperworks Manufactures high-conductivity rectangular, square and round copper busbars, coiled copper rods and strip, and paper-covered copper strip for the transformer industry.
- SA Aluworks Manufactures a wide range of aluminium alloys for the local and export market using 100% recycled aluminium scrap.
- Real Steel Stocks and sells a wide range of affordable prime steel, reusable steel and ancillary products including channels, angles, expanded metal, flat bar, grating, joists, plates, reinforcing, sheets, tubing, and hardware items such as welding equipment, bolts, and fasteners for engineering contractors and DIY customers at the Epping 2, Cape Town storefront.
- Waste Control Waste removal and management services in the Western Cape (and Gauteng on request) operating a large fleet of specialized vehicles with compactor, skip, and roll-on-roll-off vehicles for domestic, commercial, and industrial waste collection and disposal at registered landfill facilities; partners with specialist recycling contractors to maximize recycling.
- Demolition & Rehabilitation Provides expert demolition services including industrial and mining demolition, rehabilitation, radiological hazard decontamination, and full site clean-ups and land rehabilitation with specialized equipment for aircraft, naval vessels, mining structures, and concrete structures; operates in accordance with National Nuclear Regulator and asbestos-handling legislation.
- Household & Domestic Goods Recycling Purchases redundant household goods including appliances (washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, heaters), tools, and steel garden furniture from residential sellers for scrap metal recycling.
- Commercial Equipment & Machinery Recycling Recycling services for commercial plant and machinery including bulldozers, concrete mixers, cranes, buses, trucks, trains, railcars, forklifts, and loaders from industrial and commercial sources, with logistics support including cranes and lifting equipment.
- End-of-Life Vehicle Purchasing Purchases all end-of-life vehicles from individual vehicle owners, insurance companies with write-offs, and repair shops, offering competitive prices, immediate payment by cash, cheque, or bank transfer, and quick collections throughout Western Cape and Gauteng.
- Scrap Metal Buying Operations Core scrap metal buying operations across conveniently-located scrap yards in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Pretoria; purchases, collects, and processes ferrous metals (iron, steel) and non-ferrous metals (aluminium, copper, zinc, stainless steel, lead, nickel, brass, tin, bronze) from industrial enterprises, public entities, scrap metal dealers, contractors, business operators, and private individuals, with assized weighbridges and immediate payment.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% recycled content in manufactured steel and aluminium products
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use S A Metal Group
Customer profileSegments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
S A Metal Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
S A Metal Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Specialist Recycling ContractorsminorWaste Control, the waste management arm of SA Metal Group, has partnerships with South Africa's top specialist recycling contractors to promote and support recycling of waste wherever possible. Waste that cannot be recycled is disposed of at landfill facilities registered with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
S A Metal Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- EMR Group: EMR is a privately held UK-based metal recycler operating collection yards, shredders, and downstream processing across Europe and North America. Closely comparable to SA Metal Group in being a family-influenced, multi-divisional recycler with global scrap sourcing and export reach.
- Schnitzer Steel Industries: Schnitzer Steel is a US-based metal recycler and finished steel producer operating scrap yards, shredders, and steel mills along the West Coast and Northeast. Comparable to SA Metal Group through its integrated ferrous scrap-to-finished-product platform and export of recycled metals.
- Sims Limited: Sims Limited (formerly Sims Metal Management) is one of the world's largest metal recyclers, operating scrap yards, processing facilities, and downstream metal production across the Americas, UK, and Australasia. Directly comparable to SA Metal Group's collection, processing, and export-driven business model at a global scale.
- Chiho Environmental Group: Chiho Environmental Group is one of Asia's largest mixed scrap metal recyclers, processing ferrous and non-ferrous scrap with operations in China, Europe, and North America. Comparable to SA Metal Group through its integrated collection, processing, and cross-border scrap trade model.
Broad incumbents
- Aurubis AG: Aurubis is Europe's largest copper smelter and recycler, producing copper cathodes, rods, and strip from primary and secondary feed. Directly comparable to SA Copperworks, with broader international reach and integration into electrical equipment supply chains.
- Norsk Hydro ASA: Norsk Hydro is a global integrated aluminum producer spanning bauxite, alumina, primary smelting, and aluminum recycling (Hydro CIRCAL). Relevant as a benchmark for SA Aluworks in secondary aluminum and recycled-content alloys, though at vastly greater scale and geographic breadth.
- Constellium SE: Constellium is a global manufacturer of aluminum rolled products, extrusions, and structural parts serving aerospace, automotive, and packaging. Comparable to SA Aluworks' aluminum alloy manufacturing, though Constellium focuses on higher-value engineered products for global OEMs.
Others
- DOWA Holdings: DOWA Holdings is a Japanese environmental management and metal recycling company operating smelters, e-waste processors, and precious metal refiners. Relevant as a comparable integrated recycler with downstream secondary smelting and refining capabilities similar to SA Copperworks and SA Aluworks.
Emerging players
- Metalico, Inc. Metalico is a US-based scrap metal recycler and processor operating ferrous and non-ferrous yards in the Northeast and Midwest. Comparable to SA Metal Group as a multi-metal collector-processor, though with a narrower product portfolio and no downstream steelmaking.
Regional players
- Reclam International: Reclam is a South African non-ferrous metal recycler and processor, focused on aluminum, copper, and zinc. Operates in the same domestic market as SA Metal Group and competes directly for non-ferrous feedstock, though with a narrower geographic and product footprint.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
S A Metal Group social profiles
Digital presenceS A Metal Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
S A Metal Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
S A Metal Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
S A Metal Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
S A Metal Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about S A Metal Group
What does S A Metal Group do?
SA Metal Group purchases, collects, and processes ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metals (iron, steel, aluminium, copper, zinc, stainless steel, lead, nickel, brass, tin, bronze) from industrial enterprises, public entities, scrap dealers, and private individuals through its yards in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Pretoria. Downstream, its manufacturing divisions (SA Steelworks, SA Copperworks, SA Aluworks) transform 100% recycled scrap into steel billets, reinforcing bar, copper busbars and strip, and aluminium alloys sold domestically and abroad. Complementary services include Real Steel retail, Waste Control collection, and Demolition & Rehabilitation.
Is S A Metal Group a public or private company?
S A Metal Group is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was S A Metal Group founded?
S A Metal Group was founded in 1919. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is S A Metal Group based?
S A Metal Group is headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does S A Metal Group make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Scrap Metal Purchasing and Processing is the primary driver. The others are manufacturing Operations, real Steel Product Sales, waste Control Services and demolition Services.
Who are S A Metal Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are EMR Group, Schnitzer Steel Industries, Sims Limited and Chiho Environmental Group. Broad incumbents are Aurubis AG, Norsk Hydro ASA and Constellium SE. DOWA Holdings is listed as an others. Metalico, Inc. is listed as an emerging player. Reclam International is listed as a regional player.
Does S A Metal Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for S A Metal Group.
What industry is S A Metal Group in?
S A Metal Group's product category is Metal Recycling and Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPALADAF, Metals Recycling & Processing (Ferrous/Non-Ferrous), with a secondary code of IMAKAMAK, Scrap Metal Collection, Logistics & Aggregation (Yards, Roll-off, Container Programs). Its NAICS code is 331314 and its SIC code is 3341.