Hydraform started based in Jochen Kofahl’s garage, back in 1988. Jochen had a dream that high-quality bricks could be created with nothing more than a 20-percent addition of building cement to soil, formed in a machine under hydraulic pressure. That dream gave rise to South Africa’s first brickmaking company that designed, developed and marketed a patented brick-making machine that was portable and operated on-site. Just nine months after Jochen started his company, he was joined by business partner, Robert Plattner. Together, they created the M1 machine, which was used to create the very first home built with Hydraform blocks, in Witbank, South Africa.

The unique interlocking, mortarless design means significant reductions in building costs, and is backed by Agrement Certificate 96/237, issued by the CSIR in Pretoria.

Today, Hydraform have developed a range of machines that offer a full turnkey functionality. From our flagship block-making machines to equipment that produces various types of bricks and pavers, soil-sifting rotary screen machines and are used in over 50 countries across the world, to build homes, universities, schools, churches, museums and many other developments.

Hydraform continues to run on the founding principles of fair business practice, ethical, open and honest dealings with customers and a willingness to witness our customer’s business growth, so much that we have established a training academy to empower our customers with the skills and knowledge to run a profitable business, using our technology.