In 1884 Lauritz H Marthinusenarrived in South Africa from Norway, joining a Norwegian settlement onthe Natal South Coast, now known as Port Shepstone. His electricaltraining found little use in Natal so he made his way to the early ReefGold Mines catching the stage coach to Ladysmith and literally walkingthe rest of the way to Johannesburg where he joined the Nourse Mine.

Hisentrepreneurial mind was quick to see the opportunity of windingelectrical rotating machines locally which in the absence of a repairfacility in South Africa were being returned to Europe. The full repaircycle therefore often taking as long as 18 months.

LH’s initialapproach was the winding of low voltage motors in his private time butthis part time work flourished such that it necessitated theestablishment of LHM in 1913.

Almost from the time of itsinception LHM tackled all categories of work and soon required cranesand electrical equipment for the handling of armatures upwards of 50tonnes in weight.

The company grew rapidly gaining thereputation of a local facility that was competent in handling complexrepairs in a short space of time coupled with technical standards thatwere equivalent to that of the OEM’s.

The substantial GreenStreet premises were to prove adequate taking the company through WorldWar I & II and it was not until 1946 that new and special purposefacilities were built in Denver which although now much extended arestill occupied today.

From its inception LHM has enjoyed thereputation of the leading repair shop and without doubt is the largestfacility in Southern Hemisphere.

LHM was first sold to FirstElectric in 1947 which was later to become GEC a situation that was toperpetuate until Delta Electrical purchased the company in 1982.

SinceDelta’s entry LHM has grown rapidly which has been assisted by thepurchase of the latest technology and equipment available to ourindustry.

The establishment of branches in most majorindustrial centres in South Africa as well as a number of verticalintegration purchases of our main suppliers now firmly places LHM asthe most comprehensive and foremost electrical repairer in SouthernAfrica.