Wolfe Barnett’s father collects scrap metal with a pushbarrow around London in the 1890s. In 1900, he emigrates with his family to South Africa.

The SA Metal and Machinery Company is founded by Wolfe Barnett (1886-1946) in Woodstock, Cape Town. At first, SA Metal’s main business is buying up used machinery and breaking it up for spares. Scrap metal is a secondary line of business and is shipped to the UK packed in 44-gallon drums on the decks of steam ships. The company becomes known colloquially as “SA Metal”.

After World War II, as spare parts became more readily available elsewhere, the machinery business dries up and scrap metal becomes SA Metal’s main focus. The reins of the company are taken over by the second generation.

SA Metal introduces modern scrap handling equipment, including a Hyster “Karry Krane”, to its yard in Woodstock.

Ever expanding, SA Metal installs the first hydraulic baling press for scrap metal in South Africa, imported from Lindemann in Germany. It operates on a water-based hydraulic fluid. Soon after, the company imports the first hydraulic scrap-handling machine with a grab in South Africa, a UK built “Hymac”.

Waste Control, a subsidiary of SA Metal, is established in Cape Town. At first, its primary service is the removal of rubble from swimming pool excavations.

The company installs its first hydraulic shearing machine, a 420 ton Lindemann Luges.

The restored body of a World War II Spitfire aircraft is mounted at the company’s Salt River premises, where it becomes a world-famous landmark. It is removed in 1988 due to deterioration from nearby railway shunting yards and vandals taking shots at it. It is shipped to the UK and sold to a restorer.

The third generation joins the company.

SA Metal ships its first bulk vessel of scrap steel from Cape Town.

The company moves its main operation to Epping Industria, Cape Town.

Real Steel, a subsidiary of SA Metal, is established at the company’s Epping complex.

The company installs its first shredder at Epping, a 2000HP Williams. This is later replaced with a modern 3000HP Texas Shredder which is later upgraded as improvements become available.

The company acquires its first property adjacent to its Epping headquarters. Over the following years, it acquires a number of other properties adjacent to its original base. Today, its Epping scrap processing plant is the largest in South Africa.

The company continues to invest in machinery, equipment, facilities and a comprehensive vehicle fleet.

SA Metal opens its first premises in Johannesburg, at Elandsfontein.

SA Metal makes a major investment in a modern steel mill known as “SA Steelworks” at Airport Industria, Cape Town. In its first phase it produces steel billets from scrap steel.

SA Metal rebrands to become ‘SA Metal Group’ and officially changes its name to “SA Metal Group (Pty) Ltd” in 2010. By this time, the company is trading in all of South Africa’s major centres.

The company opens many other scrap metal purchasing yards around Cape Town, begins expanding its Gauteng operation and grows its demolition division working in and around Southern Africa.

SA Metal opens new scrap metal processing yards in Germiston, Johannesburg and in Zandfontein, Pretoria.

The company installs new state-of-the-art Lindemann 1000 ton shears at Epping, and at its new premises in Germiston. In 2014, it installs a 1000 ton Le Fort shear at its Pretoria works.

SA Steelworks rolling mill is commissioned to produce steel reinforcing bar as well as other steel bars for the construction industry. All products are accredited by the SABS.

The fourth generation joins the company.

SA Metal makes another major investment in a modern copper processing line producing copper busbars, copper conductors, paper-covered copper conductors and brass bars at its Epping works. It is known as “SA Copperworks”.

The company opens a new Gauteng head office at Elandsfontein, Johannesburg.

SA Metal Group celebrates its 100th year as a successful family-owned and run company.

SA Metal Group turns 105 years old.

SA Metal continues to expand by installing a modern aluminium furnace at its Epping works. Making various aluminium alloys, it is known as “SA Aluworks”.