Starting a business at age 65 offers unique advantages, including decades of professional experience, established networks, and financial stability. However, in today’s world not everyone is mentally prepared or financially able to stop working at 65. In fact, it’s not unusual for people to keep working well into their 70s or 80s these days.
There are a few names for these older entrepreneurs. Graypreneurs is one and olderpreneur is another, although olderpreneur generally refers to an individual over the age of 50 who is starting out on their own for the first time in their lives. Many will use their skills and work experience and operate in areas such as freelance consulting, coaching or matching these lifetime skills with a low-overhead, flexible schedule. The brave ones are those that have to invest capital into equipment and staff to provide a service of manufacturing a product.
This is the case of Henk Zuidersma who established Norden Engineering Works at the beginning of 2025 with his son Gerlof. Henk had been part of a family business, established by his father, for all of his working career having started at his dad’s company shortly after leaving school.
Norden Engineering Works have recently acquired a Roundo Model R6S three roll section rolling machine, which has been supplied by Talmac Machine Tools
Norden Engineering Works are firm supporters of Roundo equipment and have five of their machines on the shop floor
“Gerlof was already working at the family business and had nearly 20 years of experience in the field so there was no discussion that he would join me as an equal partner. We had the skills and experience and as soon as a number of the clients heard that we were on our own they followed us.”
“Angle and section rolling machines are specialised metal-forming tools that are used to bend structural profiles, such as angle iron, flat bars, channels, beams, and tubing, into uniform curves, rings, or spirals. They operate via motorised or hydraulic rolls that apply gradual pressure over multiple passes and over specified lengths.”
“We acquired a few of the machines that we had been working with and we were in business.”
“Whether you’re working on decorative and/or architectural steelwork, infrastructure or heavy-duty fabrication, angle and section rolling will more than likely be a requirement that has to be taken into account when processing of material is specified.”
“Section and angle rolling is a metal forming process that bends steel profiles, such as angles, channels, tubes, and beams, into curved shapes using rolling machines. The technique reshapes the section or angle without compromising its cross-sectional integrity, allowing for smooth, continuous curves that align perfectly with your design or structural needs. The process prevents material thinning, buckling or deforming, thus maintaining the section’s original load-bearing specifications and integrity.”
Currently the company is processing 80 beams for a structure for a new church in Soweto that will have a diameter of 65m
Gerlof Zuidersma has over 20-years of experience in the industry
“It’s the solution for industries that require steel profiles to be formed into arcs, spirals, rings or rounded frameworks and the requirement is that there is no evidence of welding or cuts and there is no distortion. At the end of the day the structural integrity and the aesthetics of the metal must be kept. Unlike welding or cut-and-fit bending, section and angle rolling creates continuous arcs with no joints, preserving the strength and aesthetics of the steel.”
“Section and angle rolling reduces costly fabrication time by eliminating the need for segmenting, welding, and grinding, resulting in cleaner builds and lower costs.”
“Our section rolling machinery is built to handle a wide range of material sizes and profiles for light and heavy industry or in the construction and decorative field. We can process angle iron, flat bar, square and rectangular tube, I-beams and H-beams, channels and T-sections.”
“Some of the industries that we have processed material for include mining, construction, power, wear parts and general engineering. There are many other industries that require our services including petrochemical, transport and marine but it is not limited to these. Whether you need curved steel beams, frames, bracing, rounded structural forms, handrails, roofing elements, canopies, walkways, support structures, spiral staircases, balustrades, archways, sculptural frameworks or any custom design we can process your material.”
“We work on a client supply material basis thus eliminating any material intolerance after processing. We might not be shaping the future but the way we process material will help to put it into the future.”
The company can process angle iron, flat bar, square and rectangular tube, I-beams and H-beams, channels and T-sections
Henk Zuidersma established Norden Engineering Works at the beginning of 2025 with his son Gerlof
“In our short history we have been involved in some big orders. We had to process 200 lengths of 100mm by 100mm by 12mm angle iron that went to Zambia, we had to process a 25mm thick, 2 500mm long and 3.6m diameter structure for ArcelorMittal South Africa and currently we are processing 80 beams for a structure for a new church in Soweto that will have a diameter of 65m.”
New Roundo R6 four roll section rolling machine
“We have recently acquired a Roundo Model R6S three roll section rolling machine, which has been supplied by Talmac Machine Tools. The heavy-duty, high-precision hydraulic section rolling and profile bending machine features a rigid body with a shaft diameter of 180mm, a 15kW motor, a working speed up to 7 meters per minute.”
“Key specifications and capacities include a shaft diameter of 180mm, a variable hydraulic drive, flat bar capacity (easy way) up to 250mm x 40mm or 150mm x 30mm depending on exact tooling setup, angle iron capacity (hard way): up to 150mm x 150mm x 16mm and for beam capacities it handles standard profiles like IPE 300, HEA 180, and UPN 300mm x 100mm.”
“We are firm supporters of Roundo equipment and we have five of their machines on the shop floor. Roundo is originally a Swedish company but now is within the Faccin Group, a well-known Italian manufacturer of plate rolls and special rolling machines for larger diameters, thicker plates and challenging shapes. They are represented in South Africa by Talmac Machine Tools.”
“Faccin manufactures and offers a wide selection of plate rolls, angle rolls, dished headlines, and integrated solutions for rolling, bending and forming metal sheets, profiles and heads.”
Section and angle rolling reduces costly fabrication time by eliminating the need for segmenting, welding, and grinding, resulting in cleaner builds and lower costs
The company has a 3-roll plate bending machine with a 3 000mm working length with a top roll of 255mm that is used to bend and roll metal sheets into cylinders, tubes, or curves
Roundo PS 460 x 3000, a heavy-duty, 3-roll hydraulic plate bending machine
“Another recent arrival is a Roundo PS 460 x 3000, which is a heavy-duty, 3-roll hydraulic plate bending machine featuring 460mm diameter rolls and a 3-metre (3 000mm) bending length capacity designed for precision rolling and pre-bending of thick metal sheets. On this machine we can pinch 20mm plate until the end and roll material up to 30mm.”
“Additionally, there is a 3-roll plate bending machine with a 3 000mm working length with a top roll of 255mm that is used to bend and roll metal sheets into cylinders, tubes, or curves.”
“We also have another two smaller plate rollers on the shop floor and in total we have three section rollers of various sizes to accommodate for the variation of size and specification. We also make use of a Heli press brake with capabilities of 4 metres and 250 ton for bending requirements.”
“We have processed material up to 50mm thick but that only comes with know-how and experience. I have no intention of retiring and will probably still be working here when I am 80!”
For further details contact Norden Engineering Works on 083 292 7476 or 072 116 3687 or email gerlofzuidersma@gmail.com
