South African Business 2019 edition

INTERVIEW
Kurt Maritz, Managing
Director
rt Maritz
BIOGRAPHY
Kurt Maritz holds a National
Diploma in Accountancy and
Computer Practice, but is
more accustomed to developing
businesses, as his track
record proves. His first job was
with First National Bank. While
IOGRAPHY
working in sales, Kurt met an
rt Maritz
electrical
holds
supplier
a
for
National
whom he
went to work. His contracting
loma section in Accountancy grew, and he decided and to
mputer go on his Practise, own and started but Maritz
Electrical in 2000. Through
is
re accustomed his leadership skills to and developbusinessesary
outlook, as he now his employs track in re-
vision-
excess of 150 staff. The company
has His benefited first small job busi-
was
rd proves.
th First nesses, National grown skills Bank. and given While
lifestyle improvements to staff,
rking
their
in
families
sales,
and
Kurt
communities.
met an
ctrical supplier for whom he
nt to SOUTH work. AFRICAN His BUSINESS contracting 2019
ction grew, and he decided to
on his own and started Maritz
World first for
Maritz Electrical
Lighting the way to
new possibilities
St George’s Park lighting quality is unique.
What sort of work did you do in the beginnin
Maritz Electrical is revolutionising stadium experiences.
When we started, we were two companies helping ea
Rosslind and I had a loose partnership. I did the mark
execution. We did some basic electrical contracting.
work we did on contract, we still have that relationshi
later. It was for Technical Services of the City of Cape T
electrical side of water and sanitation.
A massive contract to install world-class lighting at the St George’s
Park cricket ground in Port Elizabeth has given Cape-based lighting
company Maritz Electrical a head-start as a national leader in LED
and theatrics lighting for sports stadiums.
As company founder and Managing Director Kurt Maritz says,
“That’s the sort of project that comes around once in a lifetime.”
The project was a global first because it made St George’s the
So you found a niche?
first stadium to have LED lights fitted with theatrics that was also
compliant with International Cricket Council standards.
The R27-million project was completed on time and on budget,
despite installing lights on top of the Duckpond Pavilion at night
in high winds.
The response has been enthusiastic. For Kurt, the television
experts provided the really important feedback. “We cared about
SuperSport the most and they have been raving. If there are light
and dark spots on the field the cameraman must remember to
change the aperture. They said that the lighting was excellent.”
Maritz And Electrical beyond wants the to be work the “go-to” for company the city? with respect
to stadium lighting installations. Contracts in Bloemfontein and
closer to home suggest this is already happening. “I am pleased
to announce we are going to be doing something similar in our
backyard, at Coetzenburg, but not including theatrics. Stellenbosch
University has signed with us as part of a massive project.”
For Kurt, the learning process has been exciting. “We are learning
applications from our clients,” he says. “At St George’s for that
We actively started looking for things that other elec
either can’t do, don’t want to do or find really hard
for the city was very difficult, but we had those skills
work, which very few people specialised in. Certainl
black companies doing that sort of work.
We got more and more work and in 2004 we regist
continued operating two businesses and that ran o
years ago, when we very amicably parted ways.
How did the stadium work come about?
exciting time when you are waiting for an umpire’s decision, we did
a heartbeat with sound and the lights that go with it. We also put a
‘6’ in the lights. The umpires asked if we could keep the light level
on the pitch the same and do the theatrics at the same time. The
possibilities are endless. In athletics, for the 100 metres, you could
kill all the lights and follow the guys down the straight.”
Maritz Electrical is the approved installer of Musco Lighting.
A visit to Musco headquarters in the US made Kurt aware of how
the lighting system at a stadium can create new revenue sources
for clients. As Kurt comments, “If you have a light show before the
game, you have better crowd control and there is an opportunity for
We asked, “What else is nobody else doing?” The answ
and sports field lighting and maintenance. I had the p
ing on the old Green Point Stadium. Sports field ligh
most dynamic part of the business.
So the 2010 Soccer World Cup was good for
Interestingly, Maritz did not do one of the FIFA stad
still one of our busiest periods ever because FIFA c
Fund to 34build hundreds of community sports fields, a
we got involved.