95% first-pass yield · 16-year safety record

MetalDepartment

Precision Engineering that Changes Lives

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Steel·Stainless·Copper·Brass·Nylon·Aluminium· Steel·Stainless·Copper·Brass·Nylon·Aluminium·

How we work

  1. 01

    Drawing

    Send us your drawing.

    No formal CAD file? A dimensioned sketch, a sample part, or even a marked-up photo is enough to get started. We’ll work from what you have and confirm any details before cutting metal.

  2. 02

    Precision

    Machined to drawing: 95% first-pass yield.

    We turn, mill and fabricate your part on calibrated machines, then inspect every batch against your tolerances before it moves on, so most parts pass first time.

  3. 03

    Delivery

    Batched, QC’d & ready to ship.

    Finished parts are deburred, counted and packed ready for dispatch, with a 48-hour quote turnaround that keeps your timelines predictable.

What we do

Mill Turn Fabricate Finish

Who we are

We are a commercial engineering business at Innovation for the Blind with a difference:

delivering quality engineering solutions while creating meaningful employment opportunities for persons with visual impairments.

WorcesterBased in Worcester, but we ship anywhere
100+ yearsMore than 100 years of purposeful service
OpportunityPrecision engineering that creates more than products: it creates opportunity.

The floor in motion

Metal Department · What We Do · 6:48 · English & Afrikaans captions

Did you know?

Only 3% of people with disabilities have jobs. Will you help change that?

Supporting dignity in action.

Meet the artisans →

What our clients say about us

We value the Metal Department’s competitive pricing, quality workmanship and consistent on-time delivery. They have proven to be a reliable manufacturing partner.
Tomcat Chippers
Kobus proposed a clever and practical solution to our challenge. His idea worked exceptionally well, and we were very pleased with the result.
Bois Visagie
We were very impressed with the completed work and the quality of the solution. It was well made, practical and built to last.
Rent A Tool
We were extremely impressed with the work completed by the Metal Department. The result was shared with our wider team as an example of the department’s workmanship and capabilities.
Vallei Organies
The quality of the finished product exceeded our expectations and demonstrated the skill and capability of the Metal Department’s team.
Customer feedback
Although we have the expertise and machinery to complete the work ourselves, we have confidence in the Metal Department and the quality of the work they deliver.
Industry partner feedback
We were particularly impressed by Lloyd’s versatility, technical ability and the wide range of work he is able to complete.
Customer feedback

Trusted through repeat business

One of the strongest endorsements of our workmanship is the number of customers who return with additional projects.

These long-standing relationships reflect the department’s consistent quality, dependable service and commitment to meeting customer requirements.

Our purpose

“Engineering excellence
that creates opportunity.”

Quality
Professional engineering solutions.
People
Meaningful employment and skills development.
Purpose
Creating sustainable social impact through commercial enterprise.

Proof on the floor

Coolant flowing over a turned part on the lathe
CNC + manual turning · tolerance held
Artisans at work across the machine shop floor
Skilled artisans · 16-yr safety record
Two artisans working together at the lathe
Artisans working the lathe together
Machined components laid out on the table
Finished, batched & bagged, ready to ship

Before you ask

What tolerances do you hold?

Parts are machined to your drawing and verified at a 95% first-pass yield, with every batch inspected to spec before dispatch. The machines on the floor, the materials we run and the grades we hold are listed on the Capabilities page.

What is the onboarding overhead for a new vendor?

Minimal. Send a drawing and you get a technical quote inside 48 hours: no minimum order, and no lengthy vendor-setup before you can test us on a real part. Start with one job and scale when the quality earns the next.

What are your typical lead times?

48-hour quote turnaround. Production lead time is quoted per RFQ against your volume and tolerance.

Where are you based, and how far do you deliver?

The workshop is in Worcester, Western Cape, but we ship anywhere. Standing monthly contracts run to customers across the Boland, Cape Town and beyond.

Can you handle ongoing production contracts, not just once-off jobs?

Yes. Recurring monthly component and fabrication contracts are the core of the workload, supplying names like Heineken Beverages, RCL Foods, GRW Engineering and Victoria & Albert month after month. Start with one job; scale to a standing order when the quality earns it.

How do blind and visually-impaired artisans machine precision parts?

Through training adapted to each individual, calibrated machines and disciplined inspection: every batch is checked to drawing before dispatch, which is how the 95% first-pass yield holds. Meet machine setter Marthinus and machinist Jaco on the Partner With Purpose page.

Send us your drawing.
Quote back in 48 hours.

Request Technical Quote