aBr April aBr April 2014 | Page 82

industry news G.U.D. Holdings invests, expands operations G.U.D. Filters invited aBr’s editorial team to its world-class manufacturing facilities in Pietermaritzburg (PMB) and Durban and to the G.U.D. Holdings head office in Prospecton, as the company revealed its ambitious manufacturing plans for the future. aBr arrived at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport in the company of fellow industry journalists and G.U.D’s newlyappointed Heavy Duty manager, Brian Clarke. Having been reunited with our belongings, Clarke played the role of taxi driver, delivering the contingent safely to G.U.D’s PMB facility to meet the rest of the sales and marketing team. These friendly chaps then proceeded to deliver a presentation outlining the company’s vision and history. It soon became clear that, apart from being ambitious, G.U.D’s plans are tremendously encouraging for the local economy. Putting money where its mouth is has resulted in a R4.3 million investment in a new heavy duty assembly line at the 42, 213m² Pietermaritzburg manufacturing site, which is on course to produce air filters for vehicles weighing 3,5 tonnes and greater. ➲ Welcoming us to the G.U.D. Holdings Pietermaritzburg manufacturing facility are from left to right: Brian Clarke (National Sales Manager, Heavy Duty); Attie Schlebusch (Quality Manager); Judd McLoughlin (Production Engineering Manager); Malcolm McQueen (Production Manager); Rodney Naude (Divisional Director - General Manager, Piet ermaritzburg) Essentially, the private and proudly South African company is recommitting to local manufacturing and to the country as a whole, as it expands its heavy duty product range of fuel, oil, cabin and air filters for trucks and buses. The Pietermaritzburg facility currently produces spin-on, radial seal, cabin air and nylon petrol filters for local and international markets. ➲ “The upgrade to our manufacturing facility in Pietermaritzburg is exciting and provides us with new opportunities to grow within this market,” says Brian Clarke, Heavy Duty Manager, G.U.D. Holdings. “Our infrastructure upgrade with new equipment that utilises the latest technology ensures that we continue manufacturing our premium products to support the extensive range of heavy duty vehicles on SA’s roads.” | logistics in action This new line will be capable of manufacturing all of the existing air filter types as well as some new designs, including conical shaped filters that are, in some instances, twice the size of the heavy duty filters previously produced at the site. 80 ➲ The new equipment will allow G.U.D. to produce filters double the size of any heavy duty filter ever produced previously in the Pietermaritzburg plant april 2014