In an era where the construction industry grapples with escalating costs, environmental pressures and a shortage of building infrastructure, Shell Case provides a solution!

The Shell Case story started in 1987, when the founder, Carlo Vos, embarked on an entrepreneurial journey by co-founding a construction business. Very soon the need arose for a roofing system for A-frame structures, resulting in the development of a structural panel. By 1991 this had led to the invention of an alternative building system and the design of a production machine to test market viability. A patent was secured in 1994 (with updates in 2004 and 2023). The innovation became the cornerstone of the Shell Case business and was tested and accredited for use in various applications.

The system consists of a structurally engineered light-weight sandwich panel that is used for walls and roofs. The interlocking design and mechanically connected inner and outer skins deliver high structural strength, eliminating the need for steel frames and trusses. The result is a cost-effective system that allows for rapid construction, providing durable, sustainable, energy-efficient buildings.

This building technology gained recognition and the critical infrastructure crisis in education was identified as an early focus area. The first classroom was built in Randburg in 1994 and is still in use. Many projects followed and over the past three decades Shell Case has built approximately 6,000 classrooms and related structures for schools, in the process revolutionising education infrastructure.

First classroom, in use since 1994

School infrastructure projects

Critical shortages of school infrastructure remain. South Africa requires several thousand additional classrooms to eliminate overcrowding, replace unsafe and outdated structures, and accommodate a growing learner population. Conventional brick-and-mortar construction cannot meet this demand due to building timelines, high costs, logistical constraints in remote areas, the environmental impact and a shortage of skilled labour for conventional construction. The Shell Case system resolves these shortcomings by delivering permanent (or mobile) infrastructure in a fraction of the time, at approximately two-thirds the cost of conventional methods, in a sustainable way.

Over the years the product has been utilised for other types of building infrastructure projects, including clinics, police stations, churches, office buildings, storage facilities and housing (for mine developments, industrial projects and army barracks.)

2-Bedroom show house	Police station
Clinic	MyCube (home office, etc.)
Mining admin building	Commercial offices

A key milestone was the development of a net-zero house in collaboration with the University of Cape Town and the NHBRC to advance sustainable building practices. The NHBRC has approved the Shell Case system for residential housing and this has become a focus area for the business.

The company manages every project stage – design, manufacture, site preparation and construction – ensuring seamless delivery. By prioritising local labour and training, they empower communities, creating jobs and fostering economic growth. With a legacy of delivering structures that remain operational decades later, Shell Case is dedicated to delivering quality building infrastructure.