Our History

Roemer’s Is Born

Roemer’s Cutlery and Grinding works is opened at 18 Castle Street, Cape Town.

Mr Roemer is the sole director with his son and two daughters being minimal shareholders. Miss Wiid is the secretary.

Second Anglo Boer War

Second Anglo Boer War in South Africa

Roemer’s mostly do sharpening of domestic knives, surgical blades, razors, scissors, choppers, saws and the occasional sword. Much of what we still do today.

Companies Act

Companies Act of 1926 came into legislation as the first of its kind in South Africa.

PTY LTD Incoporation

There is very little record of Roemer’s Cutlery and Grinding Works up until 1935, due to the slow implementation of the Companies Act on small businesses.

Roemer’s Cutlery and Grinding Works is incorporated as a (Pty) Ltd.

New Owner

Mr. A B Roemer dies at the age of 65.

Mr Roemer’s sole named Heiress of his estate is neither able, nor willing to take over the business.

On the 9th of August, Mr Howard Verrinder buys all shares and the business as a running concern. He becomes the sole director of Roemer’s Cutlery and Grinding Works (Pty) Ltd.

Mr Verrinder loans the company £150 to pay off all creditors and resolves to embark on a conservative advertising campaign to develop the business on sound and progressive lines.

New Branch Shop

Mr Verrinder opens a branch shop at 11 Parliament Street, a portion of which is sub-let to a Mr Hans Kramer; the Music Box, for £21,50. This was the first of many tenants.

In 1943 the Music Box went into liquidation. Mr Kramer eventually went on to open Long Street’s Home of Music which was, for a time, the city’s largest and only retailer of Classical Music. Mr Kramer was, in 1955, the founder of the Cape Town Concert Club which is still very active today. www.ctconcert.co.za

A Mr RW Hill buys a portion of the company and shares directorship with Mr Verrinder.

Roemer’s Cutlery and Grinding Works (Pty) Ltd goes private and shares are re-issued with Mr Hill owning the majority, 2/3 of them.

Miss Wiid Resigns

Miss Wiid resigns and over the next year, many secretaries come and go. Although not blatantly stated, records suggest that this is due to office politics.

Stock Shortages

Stock shortages arise due to WWII, and a budget is set up to allow the directors to travel to secure suppliers.

In September Mr Verrinder transfers all shares to Mr Hill and retires.

The Münch Family Arrived

The Münch Family arrive in South Africa, having escaped the terrors of East Germany, with little more than the clothes on their back.

Mr Münch, a qualified engineer from Germany who played a big role during and post WWII in his field, puts his thrifty, hardworking, industrious German values to work as he sets out to build up all that he had lost in Germany, and more…

Board of Directors

Mr Hill appoints Mr P Conway and Mr P Polson on the board of directors and it is business as usual.

Mr Hill retains all shares in the company.

Mr Cohen & Mr L and G Berg

Mr Cohen along with Messrs L and G Berg run the company on the same model as Mr Hill.

Mr B Münch buys Roemer’s Cutlery and Grinding Works (Pty) Ltd.

The factory, needing more space, moves to Bree Street.

Mr Münch buys Speirs Grinding Works and incorporates the two businesses under the new Roemer’s Grinding Works (Pty) Ltd.

Later that year, they move to Salt River Road.

Mr Errol Weiner Joins

Mr Errol Weiner joins the company as apprentice to Mr Pierce, the foreman/factory manager.

Mr E Weiner was the longest standing employee at Roemer’s, consulting after retirement, working at Roemer’s for 58 Years.

The Lucida House

Mr Münch buys the properties of 18 – 24 Durham Avenue and builds the 3 story Lucida House (named after the Camera Lucida that he used to manufacture in post war Germany).

The new factory had a whopping 5 machines. Today, Lucida House is still our home.

Mr Münch believed that the only way to have a thriving and successful business is to do something that no-one else can do. This was his secret, the thing that has made Roemer’s what it is today.

Registered under MEIBC

In September of 1968, Roemer’s registered with the National Council for Iron, Steel, Engineering and Metallurgical Industry. Today, this falls under the MEIBC.

Mr R Laudien Joins

Mr R Laudien, Mr Munch’s son-in-law, an electrical engineer, begins his journey at Roemer’s, starting at the bottom on the factory floor, learning the machines.

As in Mr Hill’s time, the first and second floors of Lucida House are rented out for extra income.

Mrs A Laudien Joins

Mrs A Laudien, Mr Münch’s only child, becomes involved in company affairs.

Machinery and Occupational Safety Act

Machinery and Occupational Safety Act comes into effect for all factories, Roemer’s conforms to this act.

New Factory Rules

It is ruled, in 1973, that all companies have to register their scope of work and on 3/12/1984, according to the Registration of Factories, Roemer’s falls under and is declared in this group.

Mr Münch’s Health

Mr Münch’s health begins to severely deteriorate, but he continues to work despite this.

Growth & Reputation

The business continues to grow, building a sound reputation based on Mr Münch’s secret and our motto:

The quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.

Many new machines are bought and the ground floor is jam packed with both machines and mounds of work.

Mr Münch Passes Away

Mr Münch dies from severe lung failure. Mrs Laudien takes over directorship, alongside her mother Mrs T Münch and begins working in accounts on a permanent basis.

Director Mr R Laudien

Mr R Laudien takes over from his wife as Director, alongside Mrs Münch.

Occupational Health and Safety Act is signed and aims to provide all persons within a company’s workforce and all those connected to the company with/with access to the company, with a safe working environment. Roemer’s becomes compliant.

Labour Relations Act

The Labour Relations Act is signed and aims to promote economic development, social justice, labour peace and democracy in the workplace.

Mr R Laudien Injured

Mr R Laudien tragically falls and damages his spine. Although he does not lose full mobility, he must go through rigorous rehabilitation in order to gain some function. He is unable to be at the factory, but it is still ‘business as usual’.

Mrs A Laudien Passes

Mrs A Laudien passes suddenly.

Mrs M Laudien begins working at Roemer’s, taking over from Mrs A Laudien, her mother-in-law, in accounts.

Roemer’s Founder Member

Roemer’s is elected as a founder member of the Cape Town Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Mr WB Laudien Becomes Director

Over the years, Roemer’s still plods along, doing it’s same tried and tested business.

In 2007, Mr WB Laudien become director alongside his father.

Mr W. Laudien brings a fresh, business-focused approach to what’s been a very traditional, industrial way of thinking, helping to make some big changes at the company. His first major project is tackling security. With crime on the rise in the area, installing a solid security system becomes essential, including burglar bars, CCTV, roll-up doors, and more. Around this time, Roemer’s also joins the Neighbourhood Security Upliftment Project, with one of their security cameras set up on our building—which later comes in handy for looking into incidents around the area.

A New Big Machine

Roemer’s acquires a new big machines…the Reform 40. This opens new doors and gives the company a chance to take on more work in it’s circular department. Over the next few years, Roemer’s buys new machines and refines processes, computerises much of the office and continues to grow from strength to strength.

The Consumer Protection Act comes into play and Roemer’s is compliant in providing the best service and protecting the interest on the consumers.

Roemer’s Expanding

Roemer’s, still renting out the 2nd floor of Lucida House, now makes a move to occupy the 1st floor as space is becoming limited.

New Surface Grinders

Roemer’s acquires 2 new surface grinders.

The expansion to the 1st floor is complete.

With impending power supply issues from the national grid, Mr W Laudien embarks on a project to supply solar power to the building.

Roemer’s becomes B-BBEE compliant, a big step in supporting positive change and inclusivity in South Africa. This opens doors to build stronger partnerships with other compliant businesses, and grow in new directions—all while helping to promote equality and empowerment in our community.

An Electrical Revamp

Over the next 2 years, Roemer’s converts all its big drawing machines so that they pull less power, energy saving bulbs are installed and the entire factory goes through an electrical revamp.

By the end of 2014, the entire office and 20% of the factory are running off solar power. Find out more on our Green Page.

An Additional Furnace

Mr W Laudien buys a new additional furnace and Roemer’s now has 2 hardening furnaces and 1 tempering furnace. The quenching room is adapted into a furnace and quenching room and new lights blaze through the factory telling everyone the furnaces are running.

Mrs C Karshagen (Mr W Laudien’s eldest daughter) joins the company as a buyer and stock controller.

New signage is erected on the building with the grinding man hard at work as the lights flash through the night.

Mr W Laudien buys 2 new additional furnaces and Roemer’s now has 2 hardening and 1 tempering furnace. The quenching room is adapted into a furnace and quenching room and new lights blaze through the factory telling everyone the furnaces are running.

Mrs C Karshagen (Mr W Laudien’s eldest daughter) joins the company as a buyer and stock controller and has the task of building a stock room on the first floor.

New signage is erected on the building with the grinding man hard at work as the lights flash through the night.

Roemer’s begins a new in-house training and assessment program, with the aim of uplifting all staff within the company.

Another new furnace in purchased, allowing Roemer’s to manufacture longer blades and in greater quantities.

The old tempering furnace is retired.

The Roemer’s Employee Trust is established to promote socioeconomic development and empower our workforce, giving every employee the chance to share in the company’s success. By prioritising employee upliftment and aligning with B-BBEE principles, we foster a more equitable workplace. This initiative not only enhances individual well-being but also supports sustainable growth for both our employees and the community, ensuring that everyone plays a role in our collective success.

Covid-19 Hits

COVID-19 hits South Africa with full force. Roemer’s, being an essential service to many industries, manages to gain permits to stay open during lockdown, but with drastic limits and restrictions. For the first time in 121 years of doing business, the company has to implement a system of short time and layoff – a sad day for many of our staff. Mr W Laudien tries to assist staff as best he can, by offering leave payouts and food parcels. With not knowing what the future will bring, it is a very scary time for Roemer’s as a company and for all South Africans.

With the greatest fortune, Roemer’s is allowed to open it’s doors again at full capacity, later in the year – allowing full re-employment of all staff. Though the uncertainty and worry about the future still hangs heavy on Mr W Laudien’s shoulders, Roemers donkeys on as its age-old self, with everyone teaming together to make things happen, to keep it going, securing new business and providing the top QUALITY standard they are so well known for.

Mr R Laudien retires

“As we announce Mr. Reiner Laudien’s official retirement I am reminded of the first day, about 48 years ago when Mr. Laudien arrived to join the company, from which was then known as South West Africa with his Kombi loaded with furniture and a fishing rod to temporally store in the factory.

Mr Laudien was being groomed by the then owner, his father-in-law Mr Münch to take over the business.

He was exemplary in his task and made vast changes and improvements to change the way the business was run, buying new machinery, and changing the old system to keep up with the times.

Amongst the many assets Mr Laudien has is that he also a qualified electrical engineer, and this was a valuable contribution to finding faults and repairing of our machinery ourselves, and so much of this knowledge he has passed on to me.

The tragic and unfortunate accident he had 20 years ago, where has was hospitalised for many months and despite being partly immobilised, he did his utmost to be at Roemers Grinding Works, the place he loves and still care about.

Through pain and discomfort and perhaps an overdose of stubbornness he continued.

Needless to say; it was the time for his son, Wolf to join and take the business to another level, which he so successfully has done, and is still doing.

I recall when I nervously tried to steer the business from his hospital bed as he guided me to make very important decisions, he would comfort me by saying that if I make a mistake, only make it once.

And in a vulnerable moment he would say, “what about my children” referring to his staff.

That for me, is the measure of the man, and I wish I could charge my glass, and you your silver chalice and say – PROST old friend.

So, in conclusion, I wish you a peaceful and comfortable and pain free retirement – CHEERS.”

– Errol Wiener

“I know him for 34 years which is more than a lifetime for most. He was always like a father figure to me, a family orientated man. I was fortunate to have worked with him and Mr Münch, two totally different characters. I was also the time of his accident, very uncertain times for the company. This is when his character shone through. His heart was always for the business. His recovery was a long process but still he was still concerned and involved in the business.

Things that I personally can take from knowing him is that he always said working smart is always better than working hard. He always said that the guys should always look after their monies.

He was approachable, always asking about family. He made an effort to know the families of the guys.

We also had our moments of disagreement, but always managed to resolve.

He had a keen business mind – never do something other do, was his words.

I wish him all the best and it was an honour to know him. If you ever need upliftment, you look at his fighting spirit and carry on.”

– Mr Herman

– Mr P du Preez is hired as General Manager, He begins implementing changes to the company’s policies and procedures to bring Roemer’s up to date with the modern trends and OHS requirements.

– Ms C Laudien (Mr W Laudien’s eldest daughter) takes over the role of bookkeeper.

– Mr Neil Green, the production foreman, resigns after 22 years with Roemer’s, to be with his family during these trying times with COVID.

Though the uncertainty and worry about the future still hangs heavy on Mr W Laudien’s shoulders, Roemer’s donkeys on as its age-old self, with everyone teaming together to make things happen, to keep it going, securing new business and providing the top QUALITY standard they are so well known for.

Mr P du Preez resigns

Major machine upgrades are done.

Mr S Laudien (Mr Munch’s great-grandson) joins as a Consultant Operations Manager and assists in the shift into Lean Manufacturing.

Mrs M Laudien moves the company onto a cloud-based server, allowing more efficiency and prepares to implement and ERP system and marketing strategy.

Production Manager is hired to further manage and instil the Lean Concept within RGW, increasing productivity and quality.

All staff are trained in White Belt Lean Manufacturing.

New bookkeeper is hired. C. Laudien moves into the Compliance, HR and Procurement role.

All roles within the company are clearly defined allowing each team member to operate to their best capability.

RGW celebrates the Rugby World cup with true South African Gees.

Laudien’s consulting comes to an end, with RGW having moved leaps and bounds thanks to his input.

Laudien starts the Employee of the Month initiative, recognising the ‘laughter’ in each day and those employees who go above and beyond to create a thriving work environment.

125 years – Nov marks the GRAND CELEBRATION of the company, its heritage and it’s foot into the future of Manufacturing in South Africa.

RGW partners with Aurik to grow the company and give it that push to becoming South Africa’s Cutting Solution.

ERP project in full swing, with a new stock and quoting system in development.