3D printing
Prototypes, jigs, fixtures and short-run plastic parts.
Typical lead1–5 days
MaterialsPLA · ABS · Nylon
Tolerance±0.2 mm
The way it works today
Three phone calls and a week of waiting.
Sourcing a custom part in South Africa still means emailing the shops you already know and hoping someone comes back to you. There is no easy way to see who has capacity, compare a real price, or check whether a supplier meets your procurement requirements.
Meanwhile, capable workshops sit with idle machines because nobody can find them.
What can be made
Four processes,
one request.
One brief goes to the shops that can actually do the work, matched on process, material, capacity and location.
CNC machining
Precision metal and plastic components, one-off or batch.
Typical lead5–15 days
MaterialsAlu 6082 · MS · SS304
Tolerance±0.05 mm
Sheet metal & laser
Cutting, folding and fabrication for brackets, panels and frames.
Typical lead3–10 days
MaterialsMS · 3CR12 · Alu · SS
Thickness0.5–20 mm
Injection moulding
Tooling and volume production once your design is settled.
Typical lead4–12 weeks
Volumes500+ units
IncludesTool design
Built for South African procurement
Filter by
B-BBEE level.
If your spend has to score on a scorecard, finding a compliant supplier shouldn't take three days of phone calls. Every shop on Khula submits its B-BBEE certificate or affidavit, and we check it before the listing goes live.
Search by level and black-ownership percentage the same way you'd search by material or lead time, and get the certificate on file with the quote.
Supplier searchPreview
Sheet metal ×
Gauteng ×
B-BBEE 1–4 ×
+ Material
Germiston Laser & FabLVL 2
Spartan Steel WorksLVL 1
Isando PrecisionLVL 4
Illustrative preview. Supplier names are examples, not live listings.
No CAD? No problem
A photo and a tape measure is enough to start.
Most people who need a part made don't have a CAD file. They have a broken one in their hand. That's a normal way to start a job here.
- Photograph the part with a ruler or a coin next to it, from a few angles.
- Give us the key dimensions, the material if you know it, and how many you need.
- Shops that offer measure-and-make will quote, including the drawing work.
How it works
Post once.
Compare properly.
1
Describe the job
Upload a CAD file, a drawing, or just photos and dimensions. Set quantity, material, deadline and delivery town, plus a B-BBEE level if you need one.
2
Shops quote
We match your job to verified manufacturers who do that process, in your area, with the capacity to take it on. Quotes land in your dashboard and on your email.
3
Choose and build
Compare price, lead time, payment terms and B-BBEE level side by side. Pick a shop, deal directly, and rate the work when it's done.
For manufacturers
Jobs, straight
to your WhatsApp.
You don't need a website, a sales rep, or time at a desk. When a job comes in that matches what you make, we send it to your phone. Quote a price and a lead time, and you're in.
We're signing up the first group of shops in Gauteng now. Founding suppliers are listed free for the first twelve months.
Founding supplierFree · 12 months
RequirementReply within 48 h
Application received
Thanks. We'll be in touch within two working days to verify your details and get your listing set up.
For buyers
Need something made?
We're opening to buyers in Gauteng first, as soon as we have enough shops on each process to guarantee you get real quotes back. Leave your details and we'll come to you when it's live. Or tell us about an urgent job and we'll source it by hand in the meantime.
You're on the list
You'll get an email the moment quoting opens in your area. If you included a job, we'll come back to you about it directly.
Questions
Straight answers.
Q1What does it cost a buyer?
Nothing. Posting a job and receiving quotes is free for buyers and will stay that way. Manufacturers pay to be listed and to quote.
Q2Who do I actually pay for the work?
The manufacturer, directly. At launch Khula connects you and verifies the shop's registration and B-BBEE documents. The supply contract is between you and them. Payment through the platform is coming in a later phase.
Q3What does “verified” mean?
We check the company's CIPC registration, VAT number where applicable, and their B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit before the listing goes live, and we re-check B-BBEE annually when certificates expire. It is a check of documents and status, not a guarantee of workmanship. Ratings and reviews from other buyers cover the quality side.
Q4Is my design kept confidential?
Your files are only visible to shops that take up your specific job, never publicly. You can mark a job confidential, which requires each shop to accept a non-disclosure agreement before they can open your files, or send it to hand-picked suppliers only.
Q5Are you only in Gauteng?
To begin with, yes. We'd rather have real depth in one region than thin coverage everywhere. A job that gets no quotes helps nobody. Cape Town and Durban follow once Gauteng is working properly.
Q6I'm a one-person shop. Is it worth listing?
Yes. Small shops with spare capacity are exactly who this is built for, and plenty of jobs are short runs that a large factory won't take. You choose which jobs you quote on.