WILBRINK & ASSOCIATES
Engineering in Westville

Wilbrink & Associates, based in Durban KwaZulu-Natal are specialists in Mediation and Arbitration. MEDIATION: Mediation is the processes whereby two parties who are in a legal dispute with one another use an impartial third party (mediator) to assist in resolving the dispute in the best interest of both parties. ARBITRATION: Arbitration is the process by which the parties to a dispute submit their differences to the judgment of an impartial person or group, appointed by mutual consent or statutory provisions. Arbitration is a technique for resolution of disputes outside the courts. We were requested to assist a company with its wage negotiations. During part of his studies he worked part time as a Laboratory assistant at the CSIR in Durban. He continued his studies at the University of the Free State where he obtained a post graduate Higher Education Diploma. During his compulsory military training he taught at a college in the far northern Namibia. In 1979 Frans joined the Atomic Energy Board where he was involved in Research and Development. It was here that Frans obtained valuable laboratory experience. Two years later he took up a position as Chief Chemist at a lead manufacturing company. Soon afterwards he was promoted to the position of Production Manager. Two years later he took up the position of Plant Manager at an international German company. It was here that he obtained valuable general management experience in a.o. He was offered the position of General Manager, responsible for all aspects of the company’s business. Some of his achievements were: halving the production time of some processes, developing veterinary products, obtaining record production output without compromising quality. He specialized in the Occupational Health and Environmental aspects of business as an Approved Inspection Authority. He did however assist companies in other spheres of business as well (e.g. implementing a grading system, working off redundant chemicals, assisting companies in optimizing their production etc.) Frans has also on a couple of occasions acted as arbitrator in some technical disputes. Due to his vast experience Frans decided in 2014 to shift the emphasis of his business to Mediation and Arbitration. He is an Accredited Professional Member of AFSA (Arbitration Foundation of South Africa) as well as a member of SAAM (South African Association of Mediators) and Mediatori.