Somta Tools (Pty) Ltd
Shop in Pietermaritzburg

Product categories can be summarised as drills, cutters, reamers, threading tools and toolbits, which are made in a wide range of sizes, using various materials (HSS and Solid Carbide) and Balzers PVD surface coatings to extend wear life. Thereafter the flutes were produced on milling machines until the grinding method arrived. Milestone: One milestone worth a mention is when Somta purchased a Hertlein drill flute grinding machine in 1963, even before the parent Sheffield company bought one. This machine grinds the flutes of a drill (up to 13mm diameter) in one pass in a solid hardened blank. The South African mining sector was their biggest market. Introduction of CNC Grinding Machines: In the early 1980’s, CNC grinding machines were being developed in the USA and Europe for this industry. The Mitco premises were closed with all of the employees and machinery moving to the present Somta site at Edendale Road. Factory Expansion & Divisions: Working space was at a premium with so many more people and additional equipment. It was decided to establish separate factories for product types, for instance Steel Stock and Blank Prep, Drills, Taps, End Mills and other factories. This occurred in 1986 and this concept remains today. The employees in each factory became product specialists. Unfortunately Brooke ran into difficulties in 2003 and went into liquidation. This has enabled Somta to offer coated cutting tools to compete with the very best high tech tool producers in the world. Machine Development at Somta: One of Somta’s strengths is its ability to design and develop its own cutting tool manufacturing machines in-house. There are obvious competitive advantages of in-house machine building. Somta Workers get 7.5% stake: In late 2010, Somta Tools launched an empowerment initiative through the establishment of the Somta Employees’ Trust, which gave the company’s 500 employees a collective 7,5% stake in the company. This all came about when management bought-out, and restructured the company, from its main shareholder, SCMB (Standard Corporate Merchant Bank). Carbide production facility expansion: In 2012 Somta invested over ten million rand that year alone on state-of-the art CNC equipment, which saw the company quadruple its carbide tool manufacturing capacity, thereby improving delivery times. This expansion allowed for a dedicated test and training facility which included the addition of a HAAS VF-3YT CNC vertical machining centre, to test, run and enhance current and new tool designs, as well as for training purposes. No other facility on the African continent boasts the combined manufacturing, measuring, coating and testing capabilities. Factories: We have separate factories for Blank Prep, Heat Treatment, Drills, End Mills, Taps, Reamers, Specials, Carbide and Coating all on one site. Company Size: A few years ago Somta professed to be the largest cutting tool manufacturer in the southern hemisphere. Company Vision: A world class provider of cutting tools. Company Mission: To manufacture and supply superior cutting tools, driven by a culture of service excellence, to global and domestic markets.