Celebrating four decades of growth

The company has grown up in Germiston and 40 years later it is stronger than ever with branches across the country.

SA Sealing Systems (Pty) Ltd is situated in Knights and recently employees of the company celebrated its 40th anniversary with a black tie event at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg.

Owned by Michelle Mills, the company opened its doors four decades ago in Victoria Street, in the Germiston CBD.

“We had a little shop next door to a fish and chips shop, with lots of shelving, lots of boxes and very little stock,” Mills laughed.

“We used to have to pay our supplier for our stock every Friday as he wouldn’t give us an account.

“We did this for a few months until we could afford to do things differently.”

The company started with a staff complement of three people and today employs 90 people.

Apart from the head office and a manufacturing section in Knights, it also has branches in Cape Town, Middelburg and Durban.

It specialises in all aspects of fluid, pneumatic and mechanical sealing, with the majority of the products being imported from renowned manufacturers worldwide.

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After many years of working as a manager in other firms, Mills took the plunge to start SA Sealing Systems in 1979.

She credits her knowledge of the business to her dad Randall, who owned a bearing shop in Zimbabwe.

“When I moved to South Africa I worked at a firm which supplied my dad’s business and I gained more knowledge there,” she said.

“I decided to branch out on my own as when you are young nothing inhibits you from taking a chance.”

For an audio interview with Michelle Mills click below:

The company had two premises in Victoria Street, before Mills built her own premises for the business in Myrna Street, Knights in 1989.

She has a passion and drive for the business and enjoys building up clients and going overseas to find companies willing to supply a company they do not know.

“Visiting suppliers, obtaining agencies, opening new branches, sales and our customers are some of things that drive me,” she said.

Mills added that a big motivation also comes from the customers and being able to give them what they need.

“All of us who work at SA Sealing Systems have a passion for it,” she said.

“We are more of a family than a corporate and we all get along well.”

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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za or Ashley Kiley (Journalist) ashleyk@caxton.co.za.

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