Substantial investment pushes up production capacities JOY ORLEK RECOGNITION AS one of the top manufacturers of Alumina Ceramics for use in armour protection systems worldwide is no mean feat, particularly in the highly competitive US market. It’s what has earned MOH-9 Armour Ceramics a place in the Gauteng Exporter of the Year award finals, with exports increasing by a factor of ten over the past 15 years. “And this in spite of the stronger rand,” says managing director Jannie de Jonge. Founded in 1981, the company entered the export market in the early 1990s and lists the USA, Europe, Middle and Far East and Australia in its market mix. A substantial investment in capital equipment and manufacturing technology has resulted in a major increase in production capacities, with exports far outstripping domestic demand. But while its manufacturing capability is a finely tuned machine, port congestion makes it difficult to project a first world image when delivery dates can’t be accurately predicted. Port inefficiency hasn’t resulted in the loss of any export contracts, but delays in the import delivery of raw materials has severely compromised production schedules, says De Jonge, who believes that the forwarder has a crucial role to play. Logistics provider Aviocean, along with other forwarders, plays a key role in the movement of the equipment to far flung destinations worldwide. “By introducing the customer to our agents at destination we’ve turned it into a door to door operation,” says Aviocean’s Hilton Tait.
