new equipment
Robyn Grimsley
The five-tonne low-profile Sandvik LH115L LHD will be manufactured for the global market at Sandvik ’ s new Jet Park manufacturing facility .
locally . “ However , we are in discussions with some of our suppliers regarding the possibility of them manufacturing certain components in South Africa if the volumes are great enough to justify it ,” Eriksson adds .
Rosengren points out that it is important to bear in mind that Sandvik ’ s South African facility is potentially only the first step in increasing local manufacture for global suppliers . “ There obviously are other suppliers and manufacturers out there that are looking at what is and what is not possible — and feasible . Sandvik opening up a facility here will hopefully encourage some of these suppliers to go local as well , and this will make it easier for other companies to do the same in future . Someone has to be the first , and while this might not be a huge step for Sandvik , I think it is a very important step for South Africa and for manufacturing in South Africa going forward .”
The South African government seems to share this enthusiasm , with Garth Strachan , deputy director general of Industrial Development : Policy Development Division ( IDPDD ) at the Department of Trade and Industry ( dti ), and executive mayor of Ekurhuleni , Mzwandile Masina , both speaking at the launch and lending their support to the facility and its potential to drive industrialisation and job growth in the area .
“ We as a city are delighted to join Sandvik and its clients here today to launch this new facility and , importantly , we are delighted by the launch of the LH115L five-tonne
LHD , as it marks a serious improvement to the process of mining in our country ,” said Masina . “ The City of Ekurhuleni has a long history of industrial activities associated with mining . For many decades , we have been home to many mine shafts and have also been a supplier of industrial machinery used all over the country and externally . The launch of this facility and the new mining equipment are an exciting addition to our city ’ s capability to new industrial technologies . Investing in Ekurhuleni provides businesses with a unique opportunity for connecting with the rest of the continent and the world , broadly . We are confident that Sandvik will expand its market to extend into the continent and the world by optimising their localisation advantages in our airport city .”
Strachan emphasised the government ’ s intention to build a collaborative relationship between Sandvik and other companies in the upstream mining capital equipment sector to achieve greater levels of localisation , higher technology intensity , greater competitiveness and productivity , and greater empowerment . “ The dti is very proud to be associated with this Sandvik investment to produce a low-profile loader in South Africa with this government facility ,” he said . “ I understand that it ’ s the first Sandvik product to be produced locally utilising local suppliers , locally sourced components , and local employees , with training programmes in place for local assembly . On behalf of the National Government , thank you to the CEO and Sandvik for this investment .” n
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Sandvik opening up a facility here will hopefully encourage other suppliers and manufacturers to go local as well , and this will make it easier for other companies to do the same in future .”
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NOVEMBER 2017