Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
South African livestock equipment manufacturer, Tal-Tec, recently celebrated five decades of innovation in this Talbot family business located in Brits, North West. Greg Talbot, current managing director of Tal-Tec, and his father, Peter, were surrounded by friends, family, industry partners, and the media to honour a journey characterised by innovation, dedication, and growth.
Tal-Tec showcased their latest equipment and celebrated the hard work and dedication of everyone who has been a part of the extended Tal-Tec family. The company is known for its livestock management equipment ranging from spray races, clamps, mobiles, loading ramps, kraals, and more. But where did it all start?
A rich history of innovation
During the celebrations, Peter gave some background on how the family business started. In 1970, Peter bought a small cattle farm with his father, William, who was an engineer. They quickly realised that the traditional method of dipping cattle to protect them against ticks and tickborne diseases was costly and a wasteful use of dip mixture. “We looked around and weren’t able to find and buy anything that would suit our needs. So, back in the workshop I manufactured the first spray race,” Peter said. Their first spray race was introduced at the Pretoria Agricultural Show in 1972 and quickly became popular among South African producers.
Peter explained that producers wanted to buy kraals along with the spray race, and so they began manufacturing other equipment. By the mid-eighties demand for their equipment was so high that Peter decided to form the company we all know today as Tal-Tec, a company dedicated to the design and production of innovative livestock management equipment.
A family affair
Peter’s son, Greg, joined the business in 1994 and brought with him a variety of new skills to offer the business. With a head for figures, Greg ensures the financial growth of the company and is a natural in overseeing the engineering side of the business. In addition to its extensive South African presence, Tal-Tec has also expanded its footprint to African countries such as Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia.
During the celebrations, Greg expressed his excitement about the future and thanked everyone who supported Tal-Tec through the years. – Louise Lemmer, Plaas Media
