A corporate website rebuild from screenshots
The South African operation of an industrial manufacturer needed its corporate website rebuilt with no usable source files, only screenshots of the original. We rebuilt it faithfully on a fresh WordPress install and launched it in October 2026.
The short version
- Challenge
A B2B manufacturer's website that could not be reused, with only screenshots of the original to work from.
- Approach
A holding page to keep contact routes open, then a full rebuild on a fresh install.
- Result
A faithful rebuild, live in October 2026, with nothing carried over from the old build.
- Sector
- Industrial manufacturing
- Region
- South Africa
- Delivered
- Interim holding page and full rebuild on WordPress
What needed solving
For a B2B manufacturer, the website is where buyers, partners and group colleagues confirm the business is legitimate and find a contact. When the existing website had to come offline, the business needed a credible presence back quickly.
Restoring the old build was not an option. The only reliable record of the original website was a set of screenshots.
How we did it
We separated the response into two stages with different priorities.
Holding page
We put up a standalone holding page that kept contact routes open while the rebuild was under way.
Rebuild
We reconstructed the website from visual reference on an entirely fresh foundation, faithful to the original look and structure, with nothing carried over from the old build.
Restore only what is accurate
Where original content could not be recovered reliably, we left it out rather than recreate it from guesswork.
Hand over cleanly
At launch the client received full ownership and access, with support available on request.
What the business has now
The rebuilt website went live in October 2026, recognisable to the customers and group colleagues who already knew it, on a fresh WordPress install with nothing inherited from the old build.
Losing the source files does not mean starting the brand from scratch. A careful visual reference is enough to rebuild a corporate website that looks familiar to its market and runs on a current, maintainable foundation.
Questions, answered
Should an old WordPress website be repaired or rebuilt?
Rebuilt, when the existing build is outdated, undocumented or untrusted. A fresh install gives a clean, current foundation, and a holding page keeps contact routes open while the work is done.
Can a website be rebuilt without the original files?
Yes. With screenshots or archived copies as a visual reference, a website's layout, structure and branding can be reconstructed faithfully on a clean installation.
What happens to search rankings while a website is offline?
A properly configured holding page keeps contact routes open and tells search engines not to index the placeholder, which limits the impact on existing rankings.
Should a rebuilt website keep the same look as the original?
Not always, but keeping it is the lower-risk option when customers, partners and group colleagues already recognise it. A faithful rebuild restores the website quickly, and a redesign can follow as a separate, planned project.
What should a manufacturer's corporate website include?
Clear product or capability pages, quality standards and certifications, locations and group affiliation, and direct contact routes for sales and enquiries. B2B buyers use the website to confirm a supplier is credible before they make contact.
Have a similar challenge?
Tell us what your business needs and we will come back to you the same working day with the right approach.