OUR STORY
Academy Brushware has over 2000 items in our extensive range. We manufacture 55% locally in South Africa and the balance is outsourced globally. Presenting only products of the highest standards to our customers and consumers, they know that when you work with quality products, you’ll experience quality results.
COMPANY PROFILE
Academy Brushware is a proudly South African manufacturer and distributor of high-quality brushware and related products, with over 72 years of industry expertise. Our locally produced range includes premium indoor and outdoor brooms, mops, and paint rollers and more, catering to both domestic and industrial markets. We also have a full range of branded product that we import to complete our own ranges, under Academy Brushware, Millenium, Jaguar, Moto Quip and Leisure Quip. Our commitment to quality and innovation at a competitive price has positioned us as a trusted brand in households and businesses across Southern Africa.
OUR MISSION
To completely satisfy the requirements of our loyal consumers and end users by offering products of superior quality that are easy to use and easy to choose
OUR VISION
To be Africa’s preferred one-stop supplier for all brushware, painting and cleaning accessories via a single account. We strive to not only fulfil the requirements of each and every customer, but to exceed their expectations when using our products. Giving you a quality start for a quality finish.
Commitment to Job Creation within South Africa
As a proudly South African company, we are dedicated to fostering job creation and economic growth within our local communities. Through our manufacturing operations and supply chain, we actively contribute to employment opportunities, empowering individuals and strengthening the South African economy. Our goal is not only to produce top-tier products but also to make a meaningful impact on the lives of our people. Our factory has created jobs for over 213 staff and we wish to create more by expanding our supply to the rest of the world. As part of the Bidvest Group, Academy Brushware upholds the highest local and international quality standards. Academy Brushware is a certified company under the internationally recognized ISO 9001 quality system. Our dedication to superior craftsmanship, innovation, and local economic growth continues to drive our success and solidify our reputation as a leader in the brushware industry.
Academy Brushware Established
Acquired by Bidvest
Sanlic House of Locks Incorporated
Moto Quip Incorporated
Howard Greenstein
Chief Executive Officer
Anthea Myatt
Chief Financial Officer
Bongi Thwala
Commercial Director
Alison Zweers
Managing Director
Dylan Thomas
Sales and Marketing Director
Grant Weir
New Business Development Director
Yerishna Maharaj
Financial Director
ABOUT US
Our company was founded in 1953 by an industrious Italian national, Vittorino Meneghelli who was seeking new challenges in South Africa to invest his personal knowledge in the brush trade, gained from a family business with history spanning several decades. Although being a qualified accountant, the results from being exposed so long to the family brush trade probably influenced his decision to attempt doing the same in his new surroundings and country.
He chose the name Academy Brushware for his newly founded business and as the logo he used the well known “LION” with wings presiding as guard over the Doges palace next to the world famous St Mark’s Cathedral in Venice, Italy.
From humble beginnings and with limited staff the business started growing and the production now needed to be marketed and administered in a professional manner. As the business became established and grew, more people were employed in handling the administrative, production and despatching responsibilities. Paint brush production became the main force of the business and an expansion program entailed the acquisition of brush-filling machines to satisfy the needs of moving into the domestic broom and affiliated brush territory. The challenges were ongoing and dictated that paint rollers be added to the existing range, now putting the company in a position to offer the complete range of brushware and allied products to the domestic market.
In the mid 1960’s a mere 10 years after starting up the business, it had developed into a bustling organisation and dominated a large share of the domestic market. It was also a founding member of the local Brushmakers Association. A substantial range of its products were manufactured under SABS laid down specifications as determined and drawn up by the association. Newly designed products were continually introduced on a regular on-going basis and the already substantial range on offer continuously expanded. During the mid 1970’s the Company was considered to rank amongst the top two brushmaking companies in the country.
Always looking for new challenges, the company qualified and became an accredited user of the SABS – ISO 9001 Quality Standards business concept.
In 2002 the Management Team at Academy Brushware successfully concluded a management buyout of the company. Boasting over 60 years of manufacturing flair, Academy Brushware was acquired by Bidvest in November 2013.
In July 2018 Sanlic House of Locks was incorporated into Academy Brushware. This division of our business distributes padlocks, keys, Safes & Security, Iron Mongery, Key Cutting & Accessories.
Academy Brushware is currently recognized as the top ranking brushmaking company in South Africa.
The company produces a range of products recognised for its high quality over many years of manufacture. Its dedication to provide an excellent service and outstanding customer relations in the supply of superior brushware places it at the forefront of this industry. This is being achieved by applying the most advanced production methods in conjunction with modern technology, state of the art machinery and a workforce dedicated in their purpose to deliver the best.
We manufacture a wide range of brooms, for domestic and industrial purposes, scrubs, shoe, bannister and affiliated domestic brushes, mops & rakes.
The company produces and distributes a complete range of painting utensils and tools, eg from the traditional flat type paint brush, block brushes, sash tools, lining fitches, etc to a very substantial paint roller range offering a wide choice of fabric application for various purposes.
We have introduced a range of aluminium ladders which include A-frame, Lean To, Fibreglass & Extension Ladders.
We also boast an industrial division where very exact and specific brushes are produced to satisfy the needs of the industry as a whole. These vary between hand made, wire drawn or of manual manufacture.
No matter what the demands of the customer are, we strive to satisfy.