W. Fearnehough Africa (Pty) Ltd is a world class manufacturing establishment. We have been in existence for well over half a century and continue with our tradition of excellent service and unsurpassed quality whilst continually upgrading with the latest technology. Constant striving for perfection has encouraged us to invest in the most up-to-date machinery and equipment. Because this decision was made, it helped put us onto the map and our policy of keeping abreast with technology has ensured the excellent reputation that we enjoy in the machine knife industry today.
W. Fearnehough was established in 1832 in Sheffield, England. During the years 1832 – 1976 W. Fearnehough embarked on a global marketing strategy. Branches were opened in West Bromwich, Glasgow and London (UK), and expanded to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Belgium and South Africa. The South African branch opened in 1952 in Wynberg, functioning as a sales and service depot. W. Fearnehough Africa is the only remaining Fearnehough in the world today.
Graham Jupp joined the company in 1972 and played a major role in converting the South African branch to a fully operating manufacturing concern. A few years later, Graham bought the South African branch making it a wholly owned South African company. The name W. Fearnehough Africa (Pty) Ltd was kept to continue with the excellent reputation it had built up globally and continues to hold today.
As W. Fearnehough Africa grew it became necessary to move to bigger premises and in April 1984 the offices were relocated to our current factory in Apex Industrial Sites, Benoni. The factory originally being 1300 square meters was extended in 1994 to 2500 square meters – its current size.
In the early 1990’s W. Fearnehough Africa opened a branch in Cape Town. This branch has a surface grinding machine which is used to resharpen Granulator and Paper Guillotine Blades within the Western Cape.
In 2008, Graham appointed his daughter Caireen Hains to the position of Managing Director. This was a position he had previously held for 36 years. Graham remains with the company as a technical advisor.