About Us
The Story of Optiyield
Our Story & Manufacturing Heritage
OptiYield’s story begins with our factory, which traces its origins back to 1989 as a local steel supplier and general steel manufacturer. From the beginning, the factory served a wide range of industries, including the agricultural sector, where it manufactured and supplied steel structures, greenhouse components, and practical farm-related steel products.
Over the decades, this manufacturing background built a deep understanding of steel, fabrication, and structure design. In 2019, the factory was acquired by the Waugh family, who shifted the strategic focus toward protected-growing infrastructure, leading to the development of OptiYield.
Our heritage is manufacturing. Our focus is agriculture. Our promise is to build durable growing structures locally, for African farming conditions.
Manufacturing Milestones
1989 — Factory Origins
Our factory began as a local steel supplier and general steel manufacturer, serving a range of industries including agriculture.
Decades of Agricultural Manufacturing
Over the years, the factory manufactured and supplied greenhouse structures, growing-structure components, and practical farm-related steel products.
2019 — Waugh Family Acquisition
The Waugh family acquired the factory and began placing a stronger strategic focus on agriculture and protected-growing infrastructure.
OptiYield Brand Development
OptiYield was developed as the dedicated brand for locally manufactured greenhouse tunnels, growing structures, and turnkey tunnel solutions.
Today — Built for African Conditions
OptiYield now combines long-standing factory capability with a focused agricultural offering, delivering bespoke builds for African growers.
Core Values
Build Locally. Build Responsibly.
We believe in local manufacturing, local accountability and structures built for the conditions they will face. We maintain total control over quality, flexibility and practical project outcomes.
Durability Over Shortcuts.
Agricultural structures must work in real farming environments. Our focus is on practical, durable structures suited to African conditions, rather than generic solutions.
Accountability From Start to Finish.
We guide clients toward the right structure for their actual requirement. From enquiry through to project planning, we ensure a solution that is fit for purpose.
Meet Our Team
James Waugh
Client Development & Project Lead
James leads client engagement, sales and project development. He manages the process from first contact through to accepted proposal and project handover, coordinating site visits, structural solutions, and long-term client relationships.
Mike Waugh
Design & Manufacturing Lead
Mike leads tunnel design, bespoke structure development and factory manufacturing. He oversees the design and production process, ensuring all structures are practical, durable and perfectly suited to African farming conditions.
Selna Waugh
Finance, Procurement & Project Administration
Selna manages project finance, quotes, procurement and administration. She works closely with the sales and manufacturing teams to prepare accurate quotes and ensure smooth project delivery from the proposal stage through to final execution.
OptiYield manufactures locally built greenhouse tunnels and growing structures for African growers. With factory manufacturing experience dating back to 1989, we offer standard tunnel ranges for convenience and bespoke builds for farmers who need structures designed around their site, crop and conditions.