Well-known and notable civil engineer in Paarl, Neil Lyners, quietly celebrated 25 years as an independent consultant earlier this year.
He started operating independently on 1 May 1997 (South Africa celebrated its 3rd year of democracy just 4 days prior) and was joined by a young, 27-year-old Mario Filippi (at present the Chief Operations Officer of the company) in October 1997.
Neil Lyners
Little did they know (a quarter of a century ago) that their association would literally and figuratively soar their future business to uncharted heights.
The company won the coveted Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) AON Engineering Excellence Award for projects between R50 million and R250 million in 2017. The accolade stemmed from their involvement as consulting structural and civil engineers enabling the generation of 2,3 MW of green electricity / Hydro Power. The project required the design and construction of a pipeline and associated works in an environmentally sensitive, high, and inaccessible part of a mountain.
RICHMOND PARK
Brand-new multi-billion rand, 300 000m2 GLA on 84ha mixed-use development, integrating retail, light industrial and office space is situated on the N7 highway, on a prime high visibility site in Milnerton. Lyners was appointed as civil engineers for the bulk and internal services and roads including several internal developments which included: Richmond Corner retail development | Takealot Click and Collect, a new flagship pickup point | Takealot DC and offices | Cape Fruit Coolers new cold storage facility and offices | Mustek new corporate office premises | We Buy Cars new purpose built showroom | Rubicon distribution and office headquarters facility | Aramex DC
Neil Lyners and Associates (RF) (Pty) Ltd (commonly known as Lyners) was established in 1999 in Paarl to provide multi-disciplinary consulting engineering and project management services in the built environment sector.
Fred Laker and Harlind Leng joined at the end of the year 2000 and the company’s versatility would be further expanded with the appointment of Theo Potgieter as Head of the Electrical department on the 1st of August 2013.
The shareholders prolonged association stemming from the 1990’s, is a feat in itself.
Lyners moved its head office to Tyger Waterfront in 2004, a third office was opened in George during 2014 and satellite offices were established in Hermanus and Sutherland in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
ZONNEZIGHT RETIREMENT VILLAGE
Structural design and documentation of a retirement development in the heart of Durbanville. It comprises of basement parking and multi-story residential units on major transfer-slab including design and construction supervision of electrical bulk and internal services
Not to brag about it, since it is disturbing and rather concerning, but it needs mentioning:
Whereas the fee income in the consulting engineering sector in South Africa, contracted by 39% in the last 5 years and 56% in the last 10 years, in contrast, the compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) achieved by Lyners (including 2 years of COVID-19 pandemic) was 6.5% in the last 5 years and 15.8% in the last 10 years.
Lyners has thus grown amidst contraction in the consulting engineering industry.
It is a known fact, that if South Africa’s economy can grow at least 5% per annum, its woes in terms of reconstruction, development, upliftment, poverty alleviation, unemployment, etc can be positively addressed.
Lyners’ growth (albeit minuscule in relation to SA’s GDP) reflects the dynamism in the company and their sincere intent in exercising its Corporate Social Responsibility. All this has been made possible by the dedicated leaders and staff in the company, who believed that they are equal to their peers in the consulting industry, always setting out to exceed the clients’ expectations and persevering therein, and offering a high standard of professional knowledge, thereby building respectful relationships.
UPGRADING OF DALWEIDING SUBSTATION
Lyners was appointed by the WCG for electrical engineering services relating to the Vlakkeland Housing project in Paarl. Lyners prepared the detailed designs of the substation upgrades including substation building amendments, an additional supply transformer, replacement of 11kV switchgear and various other 11kV and 66kV upgrades in the substation yard.
Over the years, Lyners has mainly been associated with public authorities’ municipal infrastructure developments, however unbeknownst to many, became very involved in the private sector mixed-use residential housing- and commercial- developments, which include shopping malls/centres, office blocks, integrating retail, light industrial parks, and mega warehousing developments.
Coupled to the above, Lyners supports Renewable Energy solutions and strives to achieve Green Star ratings for buildings and infrastructure projects The 2017-award triggered the addition of a very topical aspect, Renewable Energy, to the company’s portfolio of services.
STELLENBOSCH MUNICIPALITY PV
The Municipality undertook the rapid installation of 600kWp of Photovoltaic (PV) energy to be injected into the Municipal grid at various LV points. Lyners conducted grid connection feasibility studies, preliminary designs for the implementation of the rooftop-mounted PV on various Municipal buildings in Stellenbosch, prepared the tender documentation for the procurement of a suitable EPC contractor, provided construction monitoring, contract management and quality control up to final commissioning of the various PV facilities.
To this extent, Lyners established a company assisting clients, across the board (be it residential, commercial, institutional, etc) in optimizing expenditure on energy which, include efficiency analysis, management, custom on-grid Photovoltaic system designs and grid integration, financial feasibility studies and advisory services, regulatory approvals, construction quality monitoring and project management, installations, Compliance Inspections and Professional Certification. Capex and monthly consumption payments in respect thereto could be accounted for via Power Purchase Agreements in partnership with reputable financing houses.
So, all in all, Lyners strives to fulfil each client’s needs and aims to be a one-stop-shop, dedicated to providing environmentally sound, sustainable and industry compliant products, priding them-selves in their continuous endeavour to provide a professional service of exemplary quality.
Contact Lyners:
- Civil Engineering: Mario Filippi (mario@lyners.co.za), Fred Laker (fred@lyners.co.za), Harlind Leng (harlind@lyners.co.za), Francois van Eck
(francois@lyners.co.za) - Roads and Bridges: Rudolph Schoonwinkel (rudolph@lyners.co.za) | Structural
Engineering: Lucas Bosch (lucas@lyners.co.za) - Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Renewable Energy:
Theo Potgieter (theo@lyners.co.za), Henk
Brand (henk@lyners.co.za), Bian Vermaak
(bian@lyners.co.za) - Project and Programme Management: Mario Filippi (mario@lyners.co.za), Fred Laker (fred@lyners.co.za), Harlind Leng (harlind@lyners.co.za), Francois van Eck
(francois@lyners.co.za) - Tyger Waterfront Tel: 021 914 0300 • Paarl Tel: 021 872 0622
• George Tel: 044 887 0223 • Hermanus Tel: 083 530 5141 • Northern Cape Tel:
044 887 0223
