Volkswagen South Africa is gearing up its engine plant to produce an additional 12 000 units for the Chinese market before Christmas. The plant is scheduled to produce 107 200 engines in 2012, of which 50 200 are for the locally built Polo and Polo Vivo models. The remainder of 57 000 are being exported to India, Mexico and China, which is Volkswagen South Africa’s biggest export market for engines. South Africa previously exported fully built up Jetta cars to China. “Exports are a key element of our business model and whilst our Polo exports tend to grab the headlines, engines and components form an integral part of our export strategy,” says David Powels, MD of VWSA. With the additional order of 12 000 units, it will be running three shifts at full capacity until the end of the year. VWSA revs up production After a three-company merger, TydenBrooks, the largest security sealing manufacturer and distributor in the world, has reaffirmed its relationship with SA’s security sealing company, Aluvin. Phil Whitley, vice-president for international sales and business development, said that it had taken some time for his organisation to ‘bed down’ the amalgamation of three of the largest security sealing companies in the world after the acquisition of Stoffel Seals Corporation and E J Brooks Company by the Tyden group in 2009/2010. Aluvin MD Kevin Norwitz said that the result of the amalgamation of these three giants was that Aluvin was able to provide its customers with enhanced service and product ranges. He added that Aluvin would concentrate on the rejuvenated range of cargo, truck and container, bolt and cable sealing solutions. Apart from TydenBrooks, Aluvin is the sole distributor in southern Africa for a range of other industry majors including Europe’s ITW Envopak and Malaysia’s Mega Fortis. INSERT: Merger enhances range of security seals
