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About Us

Trusted for over 80 years

On 15 April 1937, two partners – Alexander Dingwall and William Price – decided to start a steel foundry that would supply South Africa’s growing mining industry.

At the time, Alexander’s daughter, Mary, was engaged to William’s son, Les Price. To mark the joining of the two families and the launch of a family business, the partners combined the names ‘Price’ and ‘Mary’ to form the name PRIMA Iron and Steel Foundry and Engineering Works (Pty) Ltd.

They may not have known it at the time but, on that day, the founding partners – both in their sixties and planning for retirement – established what would become one of South Africa’s oldest and most established family-owned foundries.

50 to 1,000 in 80 years

Production started in 1938, on a five-acre piece of land in Benoni, South Africa.

With just one two-ton electric arc furnace, PRIMA cast an average of 50 tons per month of iron and steel castings for replacement wear parts.

A lot changed in the next eight decades. Today, PRIMA occupies over 16 acres of land and has a monthly casting capacity of over 1,000 tons, with exports into all of the major mining regions. We provide a full spectrum of design, manufacturing, and after-sales services, with a focus on the global supply of grinding mill liners and crusher wear parts.

But one thing hasn’t changed.

PRIMA remains a family-owned business, with the fourth generation managing the company. Our 300-strong team proudly serves the global comminution industry through creative thinking, teamwork, and attention to detail.

Clients agree that our continuous investment in people and facilities has enabled us to stay at the forefront of industry developments, and has ensured our sustainability as we gear up for the coming decades.

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