In 1976, Michael and Heather Clayton started Mesh Gear Manufacturers with three machines and two operators. Fifty years later, the company employs more than 100 people across four workshops.
It is a milestone few manufacturers achieve, and one built steadily over decades of technical expertise, investment and continuity.
The beginning
The Clayton family’s connection to gear manufacturing dates back to the 1960s, when Lemuel Clayton, owner of Ensign Engineering, began cutting gears in KwaZulu-Natal. At the time, it marked the first instance of gears being manufactured in the province. Lemuel worked alongside his sons, Peter and Michael, laying the foundations for what would become a multi-generational engineering business.
For Michael Clayton, those early years provided a practical education in gear manufacturing, from metallurgy and tolerances to machining processes and the importance of reliability in demanding applications. It was an understanding rooted in hands-on experience, and it would later shape the philosophy behind Mesh Gear Manufacturers.
Starting Mesh Gear
In May 1976, Michael and his wife Heather founded Mesh Gear Manufacturers. Their eldest son, Steven, was only a few months old at the time. The business began modestly with three machines and two operators, one of whom was Michael himself.
There was no elaborate business strategy, simply a focus on producing quality work consistently and building trust with customers. Over time, the company expanded its capabilities, invested in additional machinery and steadily grew its customer base through repeat business and referrals.
That measured approach to growth became one of the defining characteristics of the business.
Building capability
Over five decades, Mesh Gear has evolved into a highly specialised gear manufacturing operation serving both local and international markets. Today, the company operates across four workshops and has invested heavily in advanced manufacturing technology.
Its capabilities now include high-precision CNC gear grinding, advanced 5-axis milling and the latest CNC Gear Tester (CMM) technology. The company also maintains in-house heat treatment facilities supported by a fully equipped metallurgical laboratory. Processes such as induction hardening, shot peening and stringent final inspection protocols allow the company to manufacture components to internationally recognised standards.
Production volumes range from single custom components to batches of up to 1,000 units, enabling the company to support both specialised engineering projects and larger-scale production requirements.
Industries served
Mesh Gear’s components are typically used in industries where reliability and durability are essential. The company supplies gears and related components to sectors including off-highway earthmoving equipment, coal mining, crushing and screening, agriculture, rail and industrial gearbox applications.
The business holds SGS system certification and supports both OEM and aftermarket customers across South Africa and abroad. In industries where downtime can carry significant operational costs, consistency and dependable performance remain central to the company’s reputation.
The second generation
Today, the business is led by Michael’s sons, Steven and Trevor Clayton. Like their father before them, both grew up in the industry and developed a practical understanding of manufacturing from the ground up.
Under their leadership, the company has continued to invest in technology while maintaining the same core principles on which the business was established: consistent quality, technical capability and long-term relationships with both customers and employees.
Three generations of the Clayton family have now been involved in gear manufacturing in KwaZulu-Natal. That continuity has provided stability in an industry often shaped by economic cycles, shifting markets and rapid technological change.
The future
Reaching 50 years in manufacturing is a significant achievement, particularly in a highly competitive industrial environment. Yet for Mesh Gear, the milestone is less about looking back than maintaining momentum for the future.
The same principles established by Lemuel Clayton in the 1960s, doing the job properly, investing in the best available equipment and building lasting relationships, continue to guide the company today. Combined with ongoing investment in technology and skills development, those values position Mesh Gear to continue serving the industries that depend on precision-engineered components for many years to come.
