Founded by mechanical engineering student Gerhard Meiring and soon joined by still-active Director, Barry Barnard, CADCOR started out performing light steelwork and sundry metalwork from their garage workshop outside Pretoria.

After purchasing industrial property in Centurion in 1995, CADCOR constructed their first workshop and office facility of 2 100m² with 4 overhead cranes, and was awarded their first major project in 1996: The BMW Paint Shop contract in Rosslyn was the launching pad that saw CADCOR securing it’s place in the steel construction industry of South Africa over the next decade, with several other major projects, including the 700 ton Mercedes Paint Shop in East London, following. 

By 1999 founding member Gerhard had emigrated to Australia, while Richard Butler and Johan Jonker joined Barry at the helm, and soon hereafter the business was restructured and renamed to CADCON PTY LTD.

Being awarded the Medupi project in 2006 in a joint venture with two other Steel Manufacturers initiated the second wave of rapid growth: Over the next few years, CADCON invested in business and workshop automation through the implementation of several state of the art CNC machinery, and supporting management software.  

In 2011 CADCON obtained its ISO 9001-2008, as well as ISO 3834 Welding Accreditations, and entered into a 46% BEE empowerment deal.

The retirement of shareholder and director Johan Jonker in 2015 not only meant the end of an era, but also opened the door to a new season at CADCON: Directors Paul Rebelo and Abri Barnard joined the leadership team in 2020.