South Africa’s catalytic converter industry received a major boost recently with the opening in Port Elizabeth of the AP Automotive Systems’ Faurencia [sic] factory, raising the Eastern Cape’s stature as a fast-emerging player in the global motor industry.
The opening of the factory, which employs 100 people, marked the start of an expansion programme that will see about 3 400 catalytic converters manufactured daily for export. “The new plant will strengthen the converter manufacturing industry in the Eastern Cape, and provide opportunities for local suppliers,” said GM Henry Heuer.
Once the Corning Ceramic core plant comes onstream [sic], the stainless converters will be produced from almost 100% local content. Columbus will supply over 40 000 t of various grades of stainless steel to the automotive sector.
Port Elizabeth was chosen due to the quality of life it offered the company’s employees, and the strength of the catalytic converter industry in the city, as well as its proximity to the world’s shipping routes.
Regarding actual production, Heuer said the first production line is ‘canning’ catalytic converters for Volvo. The order is for about 100 000 units a year, and the product is already rolling off the production line.
“While we will concentrate on canning to start, the emphasis will change to the production of other components like tubing, exhaust systems, silencers and manifolds,” concluded Heuer.
Further expansion is already planned, with the turnover of the plant expected to reach R150-million in 2000 and R450-million by 2002.
