While the industry looks back on a buoyant 2025, Dolphin Bay’s factory managers are welcoming the summer break as a chance to simply catch their breath.
Months of record sales have brought busy days for treatment plant managers across the industry, and especially for Dolphin Bay’s own factory teams.
“Since June, thing have been crazy,” said JP Lambrechts, Dolphin Bay’s Mossel Bay factory manager. “There’s been huge demand for CCA from our local customers, which has meant record months for us, too.”
“As factory managers, our job is to get the raw materials in and the final product of timber preservatives out,” said Sabie factory manager Elwin Meyer. “We don’t have much direct interaction with the customers but it’s up to us to manufacture the product they need as quickly as possible.”
JP described a “relatively normal first half” of the year, followed by a huge influx… “There have been a few sleepless nights.”
Smaller orders, more frequently
In 2025, “as quickly as possible” often meant next-day deliveries. “In previous years, customers typically took bulk deliveries,” explained Elwin. “This year they’ve been taking smaller quantities, but more frequently – and they want them fast!”
This was especially true in the second half of the year, as demand picked up from Dolphin Bay’s South African customers. JP described a “relatively normal first half” of the year, followed by “a huge influx”. He and Elwin agree that it’s a nice challenge to have… but a challenge, nonetheless.
“There have been a few sleepless nights,” said JP. “Our focus this year, as every year, is on helping the sales team as we serve our clients to the best of our abilities. In 2025 we just had to work a bit harder on striking a balance between our local clients and our export clients, making sure that everybody got what they need, when they needed it.”
“Luckily we’re both blessed with excellent management and staff,” added Elwin. “As a team, we’ve made sure that we have enough raw material, that our trucks are well maintained, and that everything runs to schedule.”
Automation enables swift production
The fact that the team has been able to “run to schedule” is due in part to Dolphin Bay’s decision to automate the Sabie factory in 2023, two years after automating the Mossel Bay factory.
“In 2023 and 2024, things were still new, and the team was settling into the new systems,” said Elwin. In 2025, the factory was running like clockwork. The team was too. “Everybody took responsibility.”
What’s on our factory managers’ wish list for 2026? “More of the same,” JP laughed. “I really hope this strong market continues, because we are a small team and we celebrate every success. Mossel Bay has had some record months, and I know Sabie has too” – at this, Elwin nods in agreement – “so if we can keep this up, it’s going to be an awesome 2026.”
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