Our History

After four and a half years of planning, licensing, product development and building the manufacturing plant, Obatex started manufacturing explosives in 2015.
The first products we manufactured were Black Powder and a Blasting Powder that are used in the quarry industry.
We also supply an Obatex fuse head / igniter to the quarry industry as part of our “one stop” service to this industry.
Currently Obatex is the only manufacturer of blasting powder in South Africa and sole supplier to the quarry industry. Our product is also exported to other African Countries.
During 2017 Obatex developed a rock breaking (RBC) propellant. This product is the first of its kind in South Africa as it does not contain any nitrocellulose ingredient.

Towards the end of 2018 we bought the licence for the manufacturing of Railway detonators from Rheinmetall Denel Munitions. We built the plant and started to manufacture our first Railway detonators in May 2019.
We are the only Railway detonator manufacturer in South Africa.
Towards the end of 2019, Obatex developed an athletic starter blank as well as a new starter pistol. These products have been approved, licensed and tested. We should be operational and start manufacturing in October 2020.