Industries in Springs and Nigel are the driving force behind the local economy. Outlined below is a summary of the industrial activities found in Springs and Nigel.
Springs is an industrial centre in Gauteng served by four main industrial suburbs, New Era, Nuffield, Enstra, and Fulcrum. There are a few well-known and famous manufacturing companies in Springs. The only Kellog’s factory in South Africa is situated in Springs. Springs is also home to Impala Platinum refineries which has precious and base metal refineries as well as PFG Building Glass, the only producer of float glass on the continent.
Zincor, the only zinc producer in Africa, was also located here; its refinery used to produce all of South Africa’s requirements for this metal and ceased its production operations in 2011. Springs is home to Sappi Mill, the only paper mill plant in Southern Africa, and the only paper mill plant in the world that is not next to a river.
Element Six is also located in Springs which is the home of industrial diamonds. Kimberley Clark in Enstra manufactures tissues, toilet paper, and other products. Afrox Health care has a plant in Enstra, Springs specializing in health care products. Then there is also Liebherr group Africa specializing in heavy construction vehicles, McCains packaging plant in Nuffield, Corobrik Plant near Selcourt specializing in bricks, and the Kreepy Krauly swimming pool equipment and regulator systems manufacturing plant in Nuffield Springs. Mondi Group also has its carton board plant and recycling plant in New Era.
Then there is the Angelo Kater Motor Trimmers Conversion plant in Nuffield Springs specializing in vehicle conversions for Taxis, ambulances, police vehicles, and other emergency vehicles. Springs is home to Jachris Pty (Ltd), a hose and coupling manufacturer that supplies most of Southern Africa’s mining houses.
Springs is one of the gold mining centers in South Africa, which includes Gold One, Modder East Operation, the Geduld Mine and East Geduld Mine, and also the Daggafontein and East Daggafontein mines. Besides gold, new coal mines toward the east of the city are being developed.
The huge and ultra-modern PRASA manufacturing train plant is located in Nigel adjacent to the Dunnottar military base. This plant will be responsible for the construction of 580 state-of-the-art Metrorail commercial trains. The cost of this plant was in excess of One Billion Rand.
Springs and Nigel were built on mining activities. The mining activities created a demand for support industries and resulted in a thriving business economy which in turn attracted a host of other industrial investments.
Springs and Nigel, in 2023, remain sought-after industrial areas due to the ample supply of workforce, relatively low commercial property prices, and the ready availability of vacant industrial lands to develop.