LAMBERT Ledoux, nickname “Fief”, founder of Orion Electric, emigrated from the Netherlands after World War 2, to settle in Johannesburg.
While working at AECI Johannesburg’s research department electrical field in 1967, the transistor and diode were invented, replacing the old radio valves, and due to his age, then 53, he found it hard to compete with the newly qualified university students.
Owing to pressure and stress to adapt to this new technology, he decided to retire early.
In his spare time, he started making and accumulating all the necessary test equipment needed to start his own business in the auto electrical and diesel fuel injection field.
He wanted to get away from Johannesburg and move to a small town. The whole country was toured to identify a town that was in need of such a business and Cradock was decided on, as the future water supply to the area would justify a business like this.
After doing extensive training in Johannesburg he moved to Cradock and opened his business doors on August 1, 1971. For the first few months, he operated out of the garage at 114 Sprigg Street.
Things started off slowly, but this suited him as he was hoping to work only from 9.00 to 15.00 daily.
In 1972, however, his backyard workshop burst out of its seams and he erected a workshop in the industrial area. Business kept on growing slowly and, in February 1973, his son, Jan Ledoux, was called on to come and join him.
After the floods in 1974, there was a lot more activity in this field and the business kept growing. With TV coming to Cradock in 1976, Orion expanded its business by manufacturing and installing lighting plants.
Lambert Ledoux handed over the business to his son, Jan, in 1985, when he fully retired to spend his time on his new hobby of clock manufacturing.
Orion continued expanding and when the workshop doubled in size, things went from strength to strength with the main business focus on Auto Electrical and Diesel Fuel Injection.
In 1995, the third generation in the person of Riaan Ledoux joined the business and completed his apprenticeship in 1996. With the changing times and technological advances in the automotive field, the scope business was expanded to include the making and repairs of hydraulic pipes, and then later the servicing and maintenance of milking equipment in the dairy industry.
September 2007 saw Orion Elektro Diesel become an official dealer for DeLaval milking equipment from machines as small as single point trolley milking units to the very sophisticated and automated large milking parlours for the commercial farms of today.
Jan Ledoux decided to hand over the business to Riaan Ledoux in 2010 and officially retired to his farm in 2012. His legacy and vision for his business are still very evident today and remain as a constant inspiration for his son.
Riaan Ledoux has continued to focus on the core values of good service and excellent workmanship which his grandfather and father placed so much emphasis on, and as a result, the business has reached the milestone of 50 years of successful operation.
Riaan Ledoux would like to thank his late grandfather, Lambert, and his father, Jan, for the vision and diligence they had to lay a foundation and build a monument that has always strived for excellence. He also wishes to thank each and every customer for their support and loyalty to Orion Elektro Diesel over the past 50 years and also their suppliers who have stood by them through thick and thin. Riaan also made mention of the staff team who are the backbone of the business.
Last but not least, he would like to thank his family, his wife, Erika, and daughters, Michelle and Kaitlin, for their support. “Agter elke man,” as they say.
