24/04/2026
Terraforce Retaining Walls's story:
From a backyard machine to walls on six continents.
In 1979, Holger Rust started out importing wire mesh gabions from Spain. But something nagged at him - there had to be a better, more practical way to hold back the earth. So, he built a small "egg layer" machine in his backyard and cast the very first Terraforce® S block. It weighed 50kg. And Terraforce has never looked back.
The humble beginning grew into something remarkable. By 1984 the first licence agreements were signed. By the 90s, Terraforce® blocks were being made in every major South African city. Today they're produced in Canada, Australia, the UK, India, Spain, the UAE and beyond - with sales running into the millions.
What made the difference? A block that was hollow, reversible and plantable - meaning a retaining wall didn't have to be a grey slab of concrete. It could be green. It could breathe. It could grow.
Over years that followed, the Bayer Trophy, the Concrete Manufacturers Association & Certification Services’ (CMA) highest construction honour, has gone to Terraforce® eight times. In 2002, the World Summit on Sustainable Development invited them to present. Architects, landscapers and engineers on every continent trust the system.
And today? Holger's daughters Elgin Rust (Director of Accounts & Media) and Karin Johns (Director of Marketing & Business Development) carry the flame - both passionate about what this family business stands for. Different skills, same DNA: innovation, integrity, and an absolute refusal to take the easy road.
We are a Terraforce® recommended contractor, Western Cape:
Anna Niewoudt
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 021 987 2233
Web: www.dassenberg.co.za
