Dryden Combustion History

In 1945 Ernest Dryden flew from Durban (Flying Boat) to negotiate with the owners of Daniel Adamson of Dunkfield, Cheshire, England, for representation in Southern Africa.

This Company was in a very unique position being able to manufacture a complete power station in their own works, viz. Water Tube Boilers and Turbo Alternators.

On return to Johannesburg, a Company was formed and titled THE DRYDEN DANADAMSON CO. (PTY) LTD. This Company was on a 50% share basis. After trading for about 4years we were successful in obtaining some very substantial orders for Watertube Boilers for East London Power Station through Merz & McLellan. We also received orders for boilers and turbo alternators for Kroonstad and Cradock Power Stations. As most of this supply would have to come from Daniel Adamson at Dunkinfield, it was decided to form another company DANIEL ADAMSON (AFRICA) (PTY) LTD. Again on a 50% basis, the original Company to carry on with Underfeed Stokers, Dutchovens, etc.

When Daniel Adamson were taken over in +- 1958, they gave us the option of buying their shares which we did and then changed the name to The Ernest Dryden Co. (Pty) Limited.

We were involved in the supply of the water tube boilers to such projects at the boilers at Theisen Marine. Although the timber company has subsequently closed, the chimney stacks have been preserved from the original boilers and can be seen on Theisen Island in Knysna today.

The company was purchased from the Dryden family in 1988 and is owned by Gordon Slater and Sue Kiley. The new owners changed the company’s focus from water tube boilers to coal, oil and gas fired packaged steam boilers. Dryden Combustion has developed into the market leaders in their field.

The company has supplied boilers not only to South Africa and neighbouring states, but has also exported to countries such as Poland and China.

Dryden Combustion is based in Alrode, south east of Johannesburg.

For more information on our history please contact:
Sue Kiley at sue@drydencombustion.co.za