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OUR STORY
Built tougher since 1989
It started with quality German trailers, adapted over time for South African roads. We've been building them tougher ever since.
From imported to engineered here
Over more than three decades the business has had a few names and a few owners. What hasn't changed is the idea: an aluminium trailer, built for our roads, that lasts.
- 1989 Imported from Germany Alu-Star starts out, around 1989, importing quality German aluminium trailers into South Africa.
- Then Made for our roads Corrugations and gravel show where the imported designs fall short. The trailers are adapted for South African conditions, with tougher suspensions and our own aluminium profiles, built in our first factory in Paarden Eiland, Cape Town. The market takes to them.
- Later Growth, then a slow patch A new owner widens the range and the business grows well, and the factory moves to Parow. In time the growth stalls and sales start to slip.
- 2016 A fresh start A third owner takes over. The trailers are excellent, but the business needs lower overheads, designs made for manufacture, and standard models.
- 2018 Home in Worcester A strategic partnership with Enso Tech brings Alu-Star from Parow to the farm near Worcester, where we are today: a leaner business, modern design and manufacturing, and even better trailers. The logo gets its mountain.
- Today A clearer range, built smarter We cut the models that no longer made sense and redefined each range around what makes it different. Modern tools now do the precision work: every design is drawn in CAD, checked with FEA and cut on our CNC machine. That keeps the quality consistent and the cost down, while every trailer is still welded, assembled and finished by hand.
FROM THE ARCHIVE
The earlier days
ONE NAME AT A TIME
From Multistar to Alu-Star
You may know us by an older name, or have an old trailer with one of these badges on it. It's the same family of trailers, and we still look after them.
TODAY
One roof, one team
Today Alu-Star is a brand of Enso Tech, built on a farm outside Worcester. Design, CNC machining, welding and fit-out all happen under the same roof, by the same ten people. We've cut the models that no longer made sense, so every trailer in the range has a clear job.
Got an old Multistar or Multitrail?
Send us a photo. We'd love to see it, and we can help with parts and servicing.