Progressive Components is based in Westgate Industrial Park, Durban, South Africa. The original business, known as Ashden Tools, was started by Kevin Hopkinson in 1989. Its small tool room was the primary focus but in 1997 a manufacturing division called Progressive Components was created with a single injection moulding machine as its foundation. Kevin employed, amongst others, a recently qualified young toolmaker, Shane James, who, after several happy years at Ashden Tools, left to gain further knowledge and advance his career. He returned to purchase and run Progressive Components in 2013.

Wesley Woolven joined Progressive Components in 2005 as a young and inspired Tool and Die maker. After 5 years at Progressive Components he started his own company Duotech and then combined forces to join Shane in 2018 as an active partner.

Progressive Components has grown into a modern, fully equipped tool room with CNC machining centres, milling machines, lathes, spark eroders, grinding and polishing equipment as well as injection moulding machines all housed in 1500 square meters of immaculate factory space.

Progressive Components is ISO 9001:2015 certified and as such has implemented quality management system requirements for all areas of the business in an effort to strive for continual improvement. A diverse capability allows Progressive Components to provide a range of products for a wide variety of industries including Safety, Security and Surveillance, Water, Electrical, Automotive, Military, Medical, Sporting, Mining and Point of Sales.