About Us

Overview

The UPL Group is an associate company of Unbrako and YFS, specializing in high-quality socket screws to international standards. Cap screws, countersunk screws, button head screws, knurled cup points, set screws, and wrenches are imported to ISO metric and imperial standards. In addition, an extensive range of allied products such as spring pins, dowel pins, pressure plugs, and locking nuts are stocked.

To complement the range, the UPL Group also specializes in all types of metric stainless steel fasteners in A2 (304) and A4 (316) material grades as well as a large range of the popular sizes in brass fasteners.

History

The UPL Group’s history starts from 1929 when Gordon Webster opened its doors in Johannesburg. In August 1966 Unbrako bought the company and, in January 1975, the name was changed to Unbrako. In 1986 Edward Simes bought the company from Unbrako and changed its name to UPL Socket Screws, and abbreviation of its previous name Unbrako Propriety Limited.

Minox Fasteners was established in 1987 to satisfy the industry’s need for a specialist stainless steel fastener supplier. This was followed by the opening of Socketex (YFS Distributor) in 1999.

In 2010 the three companies merged into one, namely the UPL Group (PTY) Ltd. In 2011 Edward Simes retired as managing director, passing the responsibility of the company onto his two sons, Richard, and Robert Simes.

Summary

The UPL Group buy their products from reputable manufacturers abroad and have built up loyal relationships with them. Locally the company supplies to fastener distributors which, in turn, supply direct to the industrial market.

Supplementary Facts

The UPL Group (PTY) Ltd. and Bubesi Investments 191 (PTY) Ltd (A subsidiary property holding company) are solely owned by the Simes’ family.

Directors of the companies are as follows:

Mr. E Simes – Group Chairman
Mr. R.C. Simes (B.Com) & Mr. R.E. Simes – Joint Managing Directors
Mrs. H Simes – Director

It is interesting to note that not only do we own our premises/offices in Johannesburg, but that we have branches in Cape Town, Western Cape; Durban, Kwazulu Natal, and Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. We also have agents in both Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Our Major suppliers of our top-quality Unbrako Brand Socket Screws for the past 80+ years are Metalac in Sorocaba, Brazil; Unbrako Ltd, Shannon, Ireland and SPS Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

We are also the sole agent for Fang Sheng (YFS) products in South Africa. This company is the largest and highest quality producer of Socket Screws in Taiwan.

We are also fortunate to have 250 active buying customers who distribute our products to end-users throughout the Republic and the rest of Africa.

We trust that this brief Overview of the UPL Group will be of some assistance to you. Should you need any further information, please feel free to contact us.