AFRICA’S LEADING AND MOST TRUSTED SUPPLIER
OF TREATED WOODEN POLES
Established in 1952, R&B Timber Group is a diversified and industry-leading timber treatment company based in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We specialize in the production and supply of treated eucalyptus poles for the agricultural, power utility, and telecommunications sectors across South Africa, the broader African continent, and select global markets.
As a proudly family-owned business, we bring decades of experience and a hands-on, agile approach to decision-making. This enables us to build long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships and deliver reliable, responsive service to our clients.
Our operations include two fully equipped timber treatment facilities with a combined production capacity of 120,000 cubic metres of treated poles annually:
Harding Treated Timbers, the founding business of the R&B Group, was established in 1952 by the Armour family. It is located in the rich timber-growing region of Harding, KwaZulu-Natal.
Natal Forest Products was acquired in 1988. Based in Richmond, KZN, it is ideally situated near both raw material sources and key markets.
In addition, our farming operations produce 30,000 tons of pulp annually, supplying the pulp and paper industry.
To illustrate our scale: a standard 7m 100/119 treated pole equates to 0.0988 cubic metres. Based on this, we have the capacity to produce approximately 1.2 million poles per year, or over 101,000 poles each month.
We are proud to be one of only three official pole suppliers to Eskom, South Africa’s national power utility.
R&B Timber Group secures its raw material from over 60,000 hectares of sustainably managed timber resources, including company-owned farms, leased land, and contracted growers.
Located just 80 kilometres from Durban, Africa’s largest port, we are strategically positioned to serve both local and international markets efficiently. With a growing footprint across Africa, our consistent quality, reliability, and customer service have made us the supplier of choice in numerous countries. We continue to expand globally in response to rising demand for high-performance treated timber products.
Our proprietary HARDPOLE™ brand sets us apart, raising the standard for treated pole durability and long-term performance.
We love what we do. We work hard, stay grounded, and remain committed in our mission to be:
Africa’s leading and most trusted supplier of treated wooden poles.
HEART VALUES
“Heart values are the bedrock of our character. We strive towards Honour, Excellence, Accountability, Respect and Trust, and in doing so we significantly impact the lives of all of our stakeholders. It is the principle which drives loyalty and our mutual respect for diversity as we collaborate to achieve our goals and to exceed expectations. It is the cornerstone of our continuing commitment to honesty and integrity.
“As farmers who have been in the agricultural industry for generations, we understand the importance of supplying a quality product. We have positioned ourselves, with our clients, as trustworthy partners for life.
We look forward to engaging with you.”
Warm regards,
Simon Armour - CEO
