Davis & Shirtliff, the leading water and power equipment supplier in East Africa is celebrating its 75th Anniversary, a significant milestone in its corporate historical past. This is a most unusual achievement for any organisation, though especially one that has the same family shareholding and basically the same market focus since its founding. There are few corporations wherever with this declare and D&S is therefore extraordinarily pleased with the achievement with varied occasions being held in celebration.
The firm was founded in 1946 by ex-soldiers Eddie Davis and Dick Shirtliff after leaving the army, initially being primarily based at Westlands, in Nairobi, their neighbour being Westlands Motors that rose to prominence with the Toyota franchise.
It grew quickly as the nation recovered after the struggle specializing in boreholes, water provides and the coffee industry. One notable early venture included the water provide for Karen Estates, the entire preliminary water supply infrastructure being installed by the company in addition to for many other of the residential estates that were developed at that time.
D&S grew with the country and in the mid-1950s the bottom was moved to new bigger premises at the present Dundori Rd location in the industrial area. An added activity was swimming pools, both residential and industrial and lots of were constructed which are nonetheless in use at present. Water Treatment was one other diversification, most of the KenGen Tana River stations having D&S designed and constructed tools.
In 1970 associate Dick Shirtliff retired and after a interval with another companion, Devji Shingadia, the Davis household, then represented by Eddie’s son Alec assumed control. The 70’s and 80’s saw sluggish but regular progress because the country grappled with varied financial and political challenges, though there was a selected give attention to constructing the pump business for which the company is so well known, notably by way of representation of the Danish producer Grundfos.
1993 was a major year for each Kenya and D&S as a end result of financial liberalisation which was the catalyst for the company’s fast development since. pressure gauge ดิจิตอล was additionally the yr that Pedrollo pumps from Italy were first introduced, now the Group’s largest provider. ที่วัดแรงดันน้ำ enabled a distribution strategy to be developed as supply constraints have been removed and the branch community was then established, initially with Kenya branches being opened in Westlands, Eldoret and Kisumu and subsidiaries in Uganda and Tanzania quickly followed by establishing activities at the Coast though the merger with companion Butech. The pump business grew hugely with Pedrollo and the now well-established Solar and Power Generation actions have been then added.
Since the Millennium growth has greatly accelerated, revenue rising many occasions to KShs10 Billion at present. Major initiatives have included an entire redevelopment of the Dundori Rd website with growth into adjacent plots, the opening of subsidiaries and affiliate companies in Rwanda, Zambia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Zimbabwe and DRC, appreciable development of the department network, introduction of the profitable Dayliff range of own-brand merchandise and an enormous expansion of the product vary with Solar being particularly profitable as the company developed its focus on renewable power. More recently a serious improvement has been institution of a large 10,000m2 Distribution Centre at Tatu City that provides the useful resource for elevated stockholding and has transformed distribution efficiency all through the region, this facility being completed in 2020. Staffing has also grown correspondingly, the Group now employing over 1000 committed workers working from over 70 places.
It is often said that success is transitory and typically unsustainable, although D&S has managed to maintain unbroken development for an distinctive time period. This has been achieved by business focus, manageable ambition, continuous physical and organisational funding and, importantly, dwelling the values established by the founders of Quality, Integrity and ‘Altiora Peto’, which translates to embracing steady change. D&S is now a widely recognised firm in the region and is happy with the contribution it has made, summarised by its slogan ‘Improving Lives’ which is demonstrated both by the important nature of its activities and likewise by an lively programme of neighborhood assist that focuses on providing water to underprivileged communities, many thousands of people having benefited.
Of course, the 75-year milestone is just a moment in a continuous journey and the Group continues to develop with numerous ongoing initiatives and great plans for the longer term. Ably led by CEO David Gatende and supported by dedicated and committed executives and workers driving this development, the company is fortunate that the third technology of Davis’s, Edward and Henry, have joined the business so continuity is assured. The Group continues to broaden in product and markets with a particular give consideration to digital enterprise and appears forward to keep serving the area with important products that certainly Improve Lives and also to show that an indigenous African firm can compete internationally and be a world-class organisation.
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