Schenker establishes auto supplier park

AN AUTOMOTIVE supplier park has been established by Schenker in East London to service the nearby DaimlerChrysler assembly plant. “We will be accommodating three factories on our site, and will be providing virtually all of the logistics services,” says branch manager Paul Keir. It is one of the first privately-developed supplier parks of its type in South Africa, and a first for Schenker, he says. Work has already started on the factories, which will house warehouses and assembly facilities for Baisch, Ariston and a Faurecia/Magna Interiors joint venture. Schenker will be supplying components just in sequence from the plants to DaimlerChrysler. There is a strong possibility of a fourth company being established on the Schenker site, which is approximately 700 metres from the DaimlerChrysler main gate. “Our landlord has been very accommodating and has built the new facilities to order. The site will also have a parking area for the tenants with a water feature and loading facilities,” says Keir. Included in the equipment being installed are two 17 ton injection moulding machines for the manufacture of door panels for the new Mercedes Benz C-Class – or W204 – which will be built in East London for both the local and export markets.