Henk Duys

Henk Duys, chairman of the Duys Engineering Group, reflects on his role with a mix of humour and dedication. “I’m only 78 years old,” he says with a chuckle. “I’m only 25% retired – maybe sometimes 50% retired – but I’m involved business-wise about 24/7. It’s not part of my life; it’s my life.”

He shares a painful turning point from two years ago: “We had a tragedy when my son Pieter, who was chief executive of our engineering operations, passed away at just 46. He had a heart attack. He was fit, so we suspect it might have been Covid- related. His passing changed everything for me. I had to rethink the future of our group.”

Henk describes his business, which he built up over decades, as “mainly divided into engineering and auto components manufacturing, with a bit of property which I manage.” He explained that the truck and bakkie components they supply gives the business stability. He also speaks warmly of the company’s evolution, highlighting investments in Richards Bay where large projects are now underway maintaining and repairing equipment.

DEDICATION TO INNOVATION
His dedication to innovation is evident. “I love production, especially when it’s efficient,” he says with enthusiasm. “Creating businesses and seeing people develop – that’s what gives me a kick. Engineering is an art; it’s like making music.”

Although his origins were in economics Henk had to learn engineering very quickly. and made his fair share of mistakes. Reflecting on his start, he says, “My father should have fired me long ago.” However, pride shines through as he considers the longevity of the business which is 64 years. “If we’re still in business after all these years, that’s an accomplishment. I’ve seen so many competitors come and go, but our resilience has kept us here. It’s about being proud of your work and putting your name on it.”

A proud milestone, according to Henk, has been their longstanding partnership with Toyota. “They’ve been cooperative and supportive without trying to take over. They’d come in and say, ‘Look, your costs are too high – how can we bring them down?’ They didn’t just want to cut us out; they wanted to build business with us.”

Henk says, “We believe we’ve built credibility with our stakeholders because we’ve always been transparent and honest. We’ve had to ask for help – whether it was credit or other support – because cash flow has been an issue. But because of the friendships and relationships we’ve maintained, we’ve always managed to pull through.” He adds, “It’s easy to break friendships, but much harder to hold on to them. We’ve made it a point to honour our commitments, even if it sometimes took a while, and this approach has built lasting trust.”

BEING ADAPTABLE
Speaking of what motivates him he says, “Seeing development and seeing people put up equipment gives me a lot of satisfaction,” he says. He admires the success of other companies as well, noting, “There’s one engineering works in South Africa that I consider the best. Seeing their achievements inspires me.” Reflecting on his own company’s recent projects, he shares, “We completed two major contracts, converting 1,200 tonnes of steel in just six months. It was a challenge, but we delivered beyond the client’s expectations.”

However, reflecting on challenges, Henk acknowledges, “We’ve been through umpteen ups and downs in 64 years. Many times, I didn’t know if we’d survive. But our family and some very loyal colleagues have been adaptable. Henk credits his father for teaching him to “separate the wood from the trees.” He adds, “My father was the hardest- working man I knew. He believed in sticking to what you’re good at and doing your best.”

Henk remarks, “The apartheid years were incredibly difficult. There were times when I genuinely didn’t know if we would stay in business. I remember the workers singing and dancing in the change rooms instead of coming to work – those were uncertain times. But then, out of the blue, we received unexpected support in the form of a cheque from the Industrial Development Corporation. It wasn’t something we asked for, but it came just when we needed it.” He continues, “Labour relations have been one of the biggest ongoing challenges, and now we’re also dealing with equity partners and structured corporate management, which is a learning process for us.”

Speaking on KZN’s future, Henk sees great potential in the Eastern Seaboard and emphasises the importance of strategic investment. “The world’s political and economic dynamics mean that large ships are increasingly navigating around Africa. Our ports – Durban and Richards Bay – need to prepare for this by focusing on ship repair, shipbuilding, and support for oil and gas bunkering. If we don’t seize this opportunity, it’s likely to shift to Maputo or other ports in Mozambique.”

Henk is also inspired by his personal interests: “I play the piano and clarinet, although I play for myself rather than others. And I have three favourite things – my wife, my bike, and my Porsche, though the order depends on who you ask!” He’s mindful of family, especially his wife, who recently bought into a retirement village in Paarl. “She wants me to spend more time there, and I’ll have to make space for that. But even there, with my laptop, I can stay connected to the business. I can see that this coming year, I’ll be spending a lot more time down there.” Currently, Henk also sees his role focused on securing the business’s legacy. “We’ve got a future for my grandchildren’s grandchildren,” he says about their Richards Bay operations.

In order to keep in touch with the business Henk keeps a spreadsheet for everything he needs to follow up on, both business and personal. My motto is, ‘Don’t expect, inspect’. My father also had one that I follow: ‘We don’t build monuments to our bad workmanship.’” He adds with a chuckle, “And as a cyclist, I say, if cycling starts interfering with your business, then it’s time to change your business.”