Date of creation 1985  
Status of the Company Private  
Main Shareholders Founders Michael Parnaby
David Keightley
Ivor Ferreira
New Partners African Merchant Bank (AMB - 24%)
Management Chairman & CEO Michael Parnaby
Marketing and Engineering Directors
Nigel Nixon
Hugh Thibaud
Dave Keightley
Subsidiaries United Kingdom Knightwatch Ltd.
Australia Autowatch Ltd.


Main Product Lines PFK's focus is one hundred percent on automotive electronics. In the UK, Australia and South Africa, PFK sells its products under the registered brand name Autowatch and for special customers branded products are supplied.
Specialist Design Expertise Vehicle security and tracking. Microprocessor based systems. GSM and GPS communications. Radio frequency designs, CAN BUS development and electromechanical packaging.
International Homologations PFK specializes in international homologations. These include European directives EEC95/54 and EEC95/56, ETS 300-320, ETS300-330, Thatcham (UK), VESA (SA), TNO/NMI (Holland), FCC (USA) and c-Tick (Australia)
Quality Certification ISO9002 (United Kingdom)
ISO9002 (South Africa)
ISO-TS16949 PFK is in the process of implementing ISO-TS and anticipates completing this by May 2002. TS incorporates QS9000 and VDA6
Main Markets and Customers  
Countries exported to: Over 30 countries
Top five countries: South Africa, United Kingdom, Australia, Israel and the USA.
OE Customers: VW South Africa (First tier supplier)
Ford South Africa (Second tier supplier)
Key data  
Worldwide headquarters Durban, South Africa
Subsidiaries United Kingdom and Australia
Total staff 350 people
Technical staff (international) 10 Engineers and 31 Technicians
Manufacturing facilities A building of 9500 sq. m (owned by PFK)
Three SMD machines
Average growth in turnover
per annum since 1996
30 %
Financial Auditors Ernst & Young
Quality Auditors AOQC (Moody's)

Customers

Aftermarket sales through Fitment Centers

PFK Electronics (Pty) Ltd. has been involved in the aftermarket since its inception in 1985.
It sells a range of products under the registered brand name of Autowatch.

The largest markets for these products have been in countries where PFK has its own offices namely in South Africa, Australia and United Kingdom.

" In South Africa PFK has 62% of the insurance approved aftermarket.
This figure is determined by statistics available on insurance certificates issued. PFK South Africa supplies over 500 fitment centers around the country.

" In the United Kingdom the Autowatch brand name was launched about nine years ago and surveys indicate that it is one of the top five aftermarket brands. Autowatch is distributed to 600 installers.

" PFK's subsidiary in Australia, Autowatch (Pty) Ltd, was established in Perth and is now one of the top aftermarket suppliers in Western Australia. A branch has recently been opened in Sydney and this should be a meaningful player there in the near future.

OE Products

PFK is one of the two top automotive electronic manufacturers in South Africa and is now an approved first tier supplier to Volkswagen South Africa and a second tier supplier to Ford South Africa.

Branded Products

PFK Electronics (Pty) LTD currently exports 70% of its production.
The majority of this is "purpose made products" branded to customer requirements in order to equip new cars.

Examples of branded product are:
France
PFK supplies two products that are approved by "Volkswagen Parts and Accessories" .
These products are sold under the brand name "Dragon - Autowatch".
Russia
Products supplied through agents of parts and accessories
Israel
Through a partnership with Mr. David Nur, PFK supplies most of the car importers

 

Products

PFK manufacturers a large spectrum of products in order to:

  • Meet the needs of each specific customers, and to,
  • Meet the stringent approvals required in the various countries.

The Alarm - Immobilisers range of products includes:

  • Touch-key Immobilisers
  • Transponder Immobilisers
  • Anti Hijack Systems
  • A range of alarms and immobilisers with a variety of accessory options for detecting intrusion.
  • Upgrade Products to existing OE installations.
    For example, Alarm upgrades to existing OE transponder immobilisers using the existing vehicle's remote control or providing a remote control if the vehicle does not have keyless entry.
  • Coded keypad immobilisers.
    These are been installed at the request of insurance companies on high risk OE installations where the keys and the transponders are being copied with equipment that is readily available to car thieves. It is also requested by insurance companies to protect vehicles when the owners keys are stolen.
  • Plug and Play
    Currently a wide range of Plug and Play harnesses and products have been developed for the Peugeot market in Israel and for Ford Transit vehicles in the United Kingdom.
  • Remote start systems


Tracking Systems. PFK
  • Supplies select tracking companies with a range of security products that communicate via RS232 and RS485 with their tracking systems.
  • Has expertise in Can-Bus systems and has recently done a development work for Volkswagen South Africa in this regard.
  • Has design experience in the use of GPs and GSM technology for this application.
Non Automotive

Non Automotive
PFK expertise is not restricted to automotive electronics. Inquiries for other design requirements are welcome. For example, PFK is currently working on:

  • Custom made GSM based systems, which are also been manufactured for the South African market. These are primarily designed for security applications and for the monitoring and controlling of functions at remote sites.
  • A GSM accounting and stock control system for the monitoring of soft drink vending machines.

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