King Brands
King Brands is a South African family-owned metal manufacturer founded in 1999, operating through King Trellis (security barriers), King Awnings (sun control), and King Racking (storage systems) divisions, serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers across Southern Africa and the United States via resellers, field sales, and a DIY e-commerce shop.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersJohannesburg, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What King Brands does
King Brands is a South African family-owned metal manufacturing and engineering group founded in 1999 by brothers Keith and Gary Wittstock, operating from a 3,200m² facility in Lanseria, Johannesburg. The company is structured as a closed corporation under registration 2020/885547/07 and operates through three wholly-owned sub-brands: King Trellis (retractable security gates, fixed burglar bars, swing gates, and polycarbonate clear bars featuring the proprietary SlamLock deadlock system), King Awnings (adjustable louvre awnings, fixed awnings, patio blinds, and architectural facades under the All Seasons range), and King Racking (industrial warehouse racking, mezzanine floors, commercial shelving, and modular wall-mounted hook systems designed to SEMA and EN engineering standards). Core technology is custom metal fabrication in steel, aluminium, and polycarbonate, with proprietary mechanical features such as the SlamLock automatic locking mechanism and distinctive X/O gate patterns, alongside PrEng sign-off capability for commercial racking installations.
The company sells through a hybrid go-to-market combining enterprise field sales with site assessments and custom quotations, a nationwide agent and reseller network across South Africa extended into Sub-Saharan Africa and the United States, and a direct-to-consumer e-commerce DIY shop for standardized products. Pricing follows a unit-pricing model for DIY SKUs (ranging from R31 for a pinkie hook to R9,178 for a DIY retractable security barrier) and quotation-based pricing for custom commercial and industrial projects. Customer segments are horizontally diversified across residential homeowners, commercial and industrial buyers, commercial buildings, and SMB/retail, with no single anchor customer disclosed. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the company remains entirely family-owned with no external investors or parent entity.
King Brands firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- King Brands
- Legal name
- King Trellis
- Website
- https://kingbrands.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- King Brands is a South African family-owned metal manufacturer founded in 1999, operating through King Trellis (security barriers), King Awnings (sun control), and King Racking (storage systems) divisions, serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers across Southern Africa and the United States via resellers, field sales, and a DIY e-commerce shop.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where King Brands is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Johannesburg
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
King Brands business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Physical Security Products: Sale of manufactured security barriers including retractable gates, swing gates, and burglar bars through direct sales, resellers, and e-commerce channels. One-time product sales with optional professional installation.
- Industrial Storage Solutions: Sale of commercial and industrial racking systems, mezzanine floors, shelving, and accessories. Custom project-based sales with turnkey design, supply, and installation services.
- Sun Control Systems: Sale of adjustable louvre awnings, fixed awnings, patio blinds, facades, and screens with custom manufacturing and optional installation services.
- DIY Products: Direct e-commerce sales of consumer-facing products including boltless shelving, hook systems, and DIY retractable security barriers through the online shop.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | DIY Retractable Security Barrier - range of sizes and finishes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Boltless Shelving 5-Level - light-duty storage shelving |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cup Hook - medium-sized wall hook |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Frame Post Protector - warehouse racking safety component |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cycling Enthusiast Hook Set - complete bike storage kit |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Garage Organiser Hook Set - tool and equipment storage |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Starter Kit Hook Set - entry-level wall storage |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Vertical Bike Hook - upright bike storage |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Flat Bike Hook - horizontal bike/gear storage |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Round Utility Hook - double-arm hook |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Long Hook Rail - 1200mm mounting rail |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Long Single Hook - extended double-arm utility hook |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Medium Hook Rail - 600mm mounting rail |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Short Single Hook - compact light-duty hook |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Short Hook Rail - 120mm single-hook rail |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Pinkie Hook - compact wall hook |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
King Brands product offering
Product offeringCore offering
King Brands is a South African metal manufacturer that designs, fabricates, and sells physical security products, outdoor sun-control products, and industrial storage systems through three divisions: King Trellis (security gates, burglar bars), King Awnings (awnings, patio blinds), and King Racking (warehouse racking, shelving, mezzanine floors). Goods are produced at a 3,200 m² facility in Lanseria, Johannesburg, and sold to both residential homeowners and commercial/industrial customers across South Africa.
Product overview
King Brands is a South African metal manufacturing group operating three specialized divisions under unified brand: King Trellis (security barriers and gates), King Awnings (sun control systems), and King Racking (storage solutions). The company manufactures custom metal products including retractable security gates, burglar bars, awnings, patio blinds, warehouse racking, shelving systems, and mezzanine floors from its 3,200m² facility in Lanseria, serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers through a network of agents and resellers across Southern Africa.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- All Seasons: Sun control systems range including adjustable louvre awnings and fixed elegant awnings.
Products and services
- Security gates (King Trellis) Physical metal security gates designed and manufactured by King Brands' King Trellis division for residential properties in South Africa, intended to secure doorways and access points at homes.
- Burglar bars (King Trellis) Metal burglar bars / window security barriers fabricated by King Brands' King Trellis division for residential windows and openings to deter intrusion at South African homes.
- Awnings (King Awnings) Metal awnings produced by King Brands' King Awnings division, providing sun and weather protection over windows, doors, and outdoor areas for residential customers in South Africa.
- Patio blinds (King Awnings) Patio blinds manufactured by King Brands' King Awnings division, supplying shading and weather screening for outdoor living areas in residential settings in South Africa.
- Warehouse racking (King Racking) Heavy-duty warehouse racking systems fabricated by King Brands' King Racking division for commercial and industrial customers needing pallet and bulk storage in South Africa.
- Shelving (King Racking) Metal shelving units produced by King Brands' King Racking division for commercial stockrooms, retail back-of-house, and industrial storage applications in South Africa.
- Mezzanine floors (King Racking) Structural mezzanine floors built by King Brands' King Racking division to add elevated storage or workspace levels inside commercial and industrial buildings in South Africa.
Quantifiable outcome
- Mezzanine floor projects can double available floor space within 21 days installation
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use King Brands
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
King Brands technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
King Brands partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights5 records
King Brands competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sunsetter: US market leader in retractable awnings and sun control products. Direct competitor to King Awnings in the residential adjustable awning category with comparable custom manufacturing and direct-to-consumer distribution model.
- Trellidor: South African manufacturer of retractable security barriers and burglar bars. Most directly comparable to King Trellis division, competing in the same domestic and commercial security gate category across South Africa.
Broad incumbents
- Elfa: Swedish modular storage and shelving brand (owned by The Container Store). Comparable to King Racking's modular hook system and shelving product lines with a similar premium positioning on configurable home storage.
- Gladiator: Whirlpool-owned brand for garage storage, organization systems, and modular wall hook systems. Comparable to King Racking's domestic division and DIY hook systems on retail-channel modular storage.
- Steel King: US manufacturer of industrial racking, storage systems, and mezzanines. Comparable to King Racking's industrial division with overlapping product categories in pallet racking, stack rack, and mezzanine floors.
- Tennsco: US manufacturer of commercial shelving, racking, and storage products. Comparable to King Racking's commercial shelving and boltless shelving lines with established scale and broad channel distribution.
- Assa Abloy: Global leader in access solutions and physical security, including commercial-grade gates, locks, and barriers. Comparable to King Trellis at the high-spec commercial end, with broader product breadth and global scale.
- Mecalux: Global industrial racking, shelving, and warehouse automation provider. Direct competitor to King Racking division in pallet racking, cantilever, drive-in, and shuttle systems for warehouses and distribution centers.
Emerging players
- Damotech: North American specialist in warehouse rack protection and safety products. Comparable to King Racking's industrial safety component offerings (e.g., frame post protectors) with a deeper focus on rack safety engineering rather than full racking systems.
Regional players
- Crimsafe: Australian manufacturer of stainless-steel security screens and barrier systems. Comparable on the security barrier product line with a similar premium custom-manufactured positioning targeting residential and commercial properties.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
King Brands social profiles
Digital presenceKing Brands financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
King Brands leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
King Brands subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
King Brands funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
King Brands 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 King Brands
What does King Brands do?
King Brands is a South African metal manufacturer that designs, fabricates, and sells physical security products, outdoor sun-control products, and industrial storage systems through three divisions: King Trellis (security gates, burglar bars), King Awnings (awnings, patio blinds), and King Racking (warehouse racking, shelving, mezzanine floors). Goods are produced at a 3,200 m² facility in Lanseria, Johannesburg, and sold to both residential homeowners and commercial/industrial customers across South Africa.
Is King Brands a public or private company?
King Brands is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was King Brands founded?
King Brands was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is King Brands based?
King Brands is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does King Brands make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Physical Security Products are the primary driver. The others are industrial Storage Solutions, sun Control Systems and DIY Products.
Who are King Brands's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sunsetter and Trellidor. Broad incumbents are Elfa, Gladiator, Steel King, Tennsco, Assa Abloy and Mecalux. Damotech is listed as an emerging player. Crimsafe is listed as a regional player.
Does King Brands have an API?
No public API is recorded for King Brands.