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36
Directors
Members
of the Board
Robert Plattner
MD
Born in Salzburg, Austria, and educated at its technical college, Robert
also completed his compulsory military training there before deciding it
was time to explore and travel. He arrived in South Africa in 1982 for a
holiday and decided to stay. His first business in his new country was
a car workshop with a petrol station, which he opened in 1984. Three
years later he met Jochen Kofahl and a mere 12 months later joined
him to sell and market the machines that Jochen and Hydraform built.
That role took Robert to many countries in Africa for the purpose of
introducing the Hydraform building technology. That his efforts – and
those of his successor in sales and marketing – have been successful
is well illustrated by the numerous, but far from comprehensive, list of
case studies gracing this magazine. Over the years he has furthered
his business education, and in 2012 Robert took on the role of group
managing director. More detail about his plans and growth strategies
can be found on page 10.
John Carter
Chairman
Zambian born and schooled in Zimbabwe, John has degrees in
agronomy (Natal) and in business (UCT), and then qualified as a
stockbroker on the JSE. Over the years he has worked in a wide range
of agricultural, commercial and financial organisations in many roles up
to MD and chairman across Southern and East Africa. His first contact
with Hydraform was in 1992 and is related in more detail on page 39.
By 1996 he had agreed to join the board of directors.
As such, his influence over the years has contributed significantly
to the integrity, value and importance of Hydraform and its low
environmental impact building process with high value and
aesthetically pleasing finishes, designed especially for the developing
world. He is justifiably proud of his contribution to building the company
and is highly optimistic on future prospects for the company both in
terms of further expansion and gaining access to new earning streams
to enhance Hydraform’s growth and success.
Jochen Kofahl
Non-executive Director
As told on page 4, Hydraform would not exist if not for Jochen, who
founded the company in 1988 on a whim and to fulfil a dream.
The principles of Jochen’s original design remain in place today:
a range of blockmaking machines that can produce a quality soil-
cement interlocking block ideally suited to the dry-stacking method of
construction. Crucially, the machine had to be so simple to operate that
it could relatively easily be used by unskilled labour.
Although Jochen has retired from an active role in the company, he
remains involved at board level and is secure in the knowledge that he
has created something so worthwhile that some of his children want to
continue fulfilling his legacy. His dream is for the company to continue
expanding and improving its product range while introducing more
complementary products, thereby becoming a one-stop shop for an
affordable, environmentally friendly building system that creates jobs
as a valuable by-product.