Kay Debideen and Enoch Dlamini joined the business in 1986, just a year after the company was founded. They have both witnessed significant growth and changes to the business in the years they have been serving, and have also grown personally through increased responsibilities and promotions into senior positions.
Steve Thurtell, Managing Director of Falcon commented: “At Falcon, we feel it is important to recognise the achievements of our staff throughout the company, especially in regard to commitment and length of service. We are proud of our long service record, and the expertise and experience this brings to the business, for its future success.”
Kay started at Falcon as an artisan and is currently the Factory Manager. “It’s really hard to believe I have worked in the business for 30 years,” says Kay. “The time has gone so quickly. Every day there are new challenges and I really love what I do, which has made the time go even faster,” he continued.
“The biggest changes I think I have seen over the years is the effect technology has had on the way we operate. The enormous improvement in systems and processes has influenced us in so many ways, from the way the implements are designed and engineered through to the way they are built, sold and used. Falcon as a business has really adopted technology and used it to the benefit of the company, yet we have remained true to our humble beginnings and our culture of honesty, trust, respect and integrity,” he concludes.
When Enoch joined the company he was employed as a temporary general labourer when we began to build the Factory. After the building was completed, Enoch was employed permanently and was taught to use the guillotine machine and many other factory machines and tools. In 1986 he was able to purchase a home, having never owned one before. “The biggest thing Falcon has taught me,” he said, “is to work together as a team.” Today he holds the position of Fabrication Shop Supervisor.
Enoch and Kay are passionate about running and have been training partners for many years. Together with 8 other Falcon employees they completed the Comrades Marathon in 2006 and have shared countless other events, races and miles together on the road over the years.
Three decades of service from Kay and Enoch working as a team with the rest of the Falcon staff certainly pays tribute to the old African proverb which says, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”