Our Heritage

The origin of Hulamin dates back to 1935 when the Aluminium Limited of Canada (Alcan) opened a sales office in South Africa, which was followed in 1940 by the registration of the Aluminium Company of South Africa. During and after World War II, demand for semi-fabricated aluminium had grown to the point where a first aluminium rolling mill was justified and was opened in 1949, on the current Pietermaritzburg site. 

In the following years, our company experienced rapid growth and expanded its operations to cover a full range of semi-fabricated aluminium rolled and extruded products. It was subsequently listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange as Alcan Aluminium of South Africa in 1969. In 1974 the Huletts Corporation acquired a controlling interest from Alcan, and changed its name to Huletts Aluminium. 

The company was delisted in 1981, although its debentures continued to be traded until 1997. The Huletts Corporation merged with The Tongaat Group in 1981 to form Tongaat Hulett, and in 1982 the name of the company was changed to Hulett Aluminium (Pty) Limited. Alcan subsequently sold its remaining 26% holding and Hulett Aluminium became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tongaat Hulett in 1986. 

In 1996, the boards of Hulett Aluminium and Tongaat Hulett approved a R2.4 billion (US Dollar 550 million) expansion program in the rolled products business, increasing capacity fourfold to 200 000 tons. The business was restructured and two additional shareholders were introduced, namely Anglo American and the Industrial Development Corporation, resulting in the Tongaat Hulett shareholding being diluted to 50%. In 2006 Hulett Aluminium’s shareholders approved a further R950 million expansion project for the rolled products business. 

In 2007 Hulett Aluminium (Pty) Limited changed its name to Hulamin Limited and introduced a fresh new corporate identity. It listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange and simultaneously facilitated the acquisition of a 10% interest in Hulamin by Black Economic Empowerment partners, the Imbewu and Makana consortia, and a further 5% by Hulamin employees.