Business

South African father and son created a unique product set to be sold across the world

Shaun Jacobs • 2 September 2026

Gordon and Dawid Bredenkamp are taking Damsak Reservoirs global, with plans to sell inflatable reservoirs up to 500,000 litres across the Middle East and Asia.

The company, founded in 2007, was created to address a common problem with water storage in rural parts of South Africa.

Typically, South African farms and rural properties use purpose-built dams and reservoirs to store water for productive use.

This is extremely efficient, using available land and enabling the collection of rainwater or groundwater for use on the property.

However, these structures are expensive and difficult to build. They also pose contamination risks to industrial and residential users because they are exposed to the elements.

Open reservoirs are inefficient in hot climates, with significant water being lost to evaporation.

In 2007, Gordon noticed rising demand for reservoirs around his hometown of Cullinan, particularly among industrial users.

Being an experienced engineer, Gordon came up with the idea of an inflatable reservoir that could be easily deployed and moved to meet demand.

In practice, Gordon wanted to build a large ‘bladder’ that could be filled with water, sealed, and used whenever needed.

Gordon thus established Damsak, a bladder reservoir made from durable PVC and produced using a unique manufacturing process.

Damsak makes its reservoirs using special jigs that form its unique, robust corner structure, which is the part of the bladder that is under the most stress.

This enables its product to last longer than alternatives and allows the company to manufacture reservoirs up to 500,000 litres.

As a closed system, a Damsak prevents algae growth and water evaporation, making it suitable for industrial applications and residential units.

The company has reported surging demand amid sporadic water shortages in parts of South Africa due to failing infrastructure.

Its product enables households and businesses to quickly deploy backup water systems that are filled when the state-run service is working.

Going global

Gordon’s son, Dawid, is now leading the expansion of Damsak beyond South Africa’s borders two decades later.

The company plans to export its products to other parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, and is now able to offer customisable products to large customers.

Damsak has also unveiled its largest reservoir to date, which can hold 500,000 litres of water and is designed for heavy industrial users and farmers.

This unit is also the first that Damsak has made specifically for the export market, and it can be shipped folded and installed without heavy equipment.

When empty, the 500,000-litre bladder can be folded down to fit within a standard pickup truck and transported to a new location.

The new bladder is revolutionary in its sheer scale, with typical inflatable reservoirs maxing out at 20,000 litres due to the pressure.

These bladders also typically require the installation of a reinforced concrete base to prevent overloading the corners where pressure is greatest.

Damsak says its 500,000-litre reservoir does not need a level, reinforced-concrete base, as it can function on a “reasonably flat surface” without a foundation.

Each Damsak is made from food-grade PVC, ensuring the safety of the water used in residential properties or industrial processes.

The company’s international expansion mirrors its local success, with Gordon and Dawid seeking markets facing challenges similar to those in South Africa.

This is why Damsak is focusing on the rest of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, with these markets also facing water shortages, sporadic supply, and a lack of infrastructure.

Damsak’s reservoirs are used across the following industries –

Residential: Backup water storage for households during emergencies and municipal water disruptions.
Agriculture: Supporting irrigation systems and livestock hydration during droughts.
Hospitality: Ensuring uninterrupted water for guest services and operations.
Manufacturing: Providing water for production, cooling systems and staff health and safety needs.
Mining: Supplying water for dust suppression and mineral processing, as well as staff health and safety needs.
Wine Industry: Assisting with vineyard irrigation and wine production processes and storage.

Gordon and Dawid believe that being a family-run business gives them an advantage over other competitors as it enables them to build close relationships with clients.