OUR History

Over 100 years of milestones

From our roots in the South African mining and shipping industries of the 1920s to the international, diversified industrial group of today, Sturrock and Robson are proud of our rich heritage and robust reputation that we have nurtured over the last century.

1912

1912

Frederick Claud Sturrock (later to become The Right Honourable F C Sturrock) and his friend Thomas William Robson venture into business together.

1912
1920-1945

1920-1945

The South African mining industry is booming and early Sturrock and Robson companies thrive in supplying and installing transport and mining equipment as well as owning shipping interests in and out of South Africa. Excellent relationships are established with UK and USA suppliers and the Group weathers the recession of 1929.

1920-1945
1946

1946 - THOMAS REID ROBSON RETURNS TO SOUTH AFRICA

Thomas Reid Robson, the son of Thomas William Robson and a qualified Mechanical and Electrical Engineer, returns to South Africa from the Royal Air Force.

1946
1953

1953

The Sturrock family’s interests are bought and the Group becomes wholly owned by the Robson family.

1953
1953-1989

1953-1989

A dynamic and confident entrepreneur, Thomas Reid Robson continues to grow the business with an eye on future markets, becoming a well-recognised industrial force in South Africa.

1953-1989
1989-2014

1989-2014

The new Chairman, Thomas William Robson Jnr, buys Shand Engineering in the UK and begins the Group’s further expansion into the UK, USA, Australia and Africa, acquiring new and expanding existing companies in widely-based support of the mining, energy and transport industries.

1989-2014
2014-2021

2014-2021

After serving on the Board for several years, Gregory Reid Robson is appointed as Executive Chairman, the fourth generation of the family to lead the Group. The focus on people and good business practice remains with an added target of contributing to a safer, cleaner more efficient world.

2014-2021
2021

2021 - APPOINTMENT OF STEPHEN CONNELLY AS NON-EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN

In October 2021 Stephen Connelly was appointed Non-Executive Chairman of Sturrock and Robson. Previously he had served as an independent advisor to the Group and more recently as a member of the Advisory Committee. He is therefore well acquainted with the Group, its operations, and the markets we serve.

Stephen is a well-known and highly respected industrialist with many years’ experience in leadership roles. In 1982 he, along with two partners, started his own business manufacturing and/or distributing industrial products. The business was listed on the JSE in 1985 with Stephen as its CEO. In 1992 the three partners sold the business to Hudaco Industries, a JSE listed industrial group, and Stephen became CEO of the enlarged group in the same year. He retired as CEO in 2014 and was appointed Chairman of the Board of Hudaco in 2018. 

2021