R70m press unveiled in Bay

Durban component supplier sets up shop in Greenbushes

READY to serve the Eastern Cape’s automotive industry, GUD Holdings has unveiled a R70-million press at its Port Elizabeth manufacturing site. The 630-ton Schuler Servo press was unveiled to representatives of Bay and national vehicle and component manufacturers at the company’s new Greenbushes facility.

Durban-based GUD Holdings last year expanded its footprint in the Eastern Cape from a Port Elizabeth sales branch only to acquiring the manufacturing site in Greenbushes, comprising the metal pressing site as well as setting up a distribution centre over the next year for all of its product offerings.

GUD Holdings chief executive Red Shuttleworth said the company was known in the South African automotive industry as a supplier of quality filtration products to original equipment manufacturers and independent after-market customers.

“For some year, our strategic objectives have been to widen our product offerings to the automotive industry and continuing the growth of our manufacturing base in South Africa,” Shuttleworth said.

Besides acquiring a leading brake pad manufacturing business in 2012 and an oil and chemical blending business last year, the company also broadened its product offerings further by expanding its metal pressing business.

In May, GUD Holdings launched its metal press division, and in June acquired Precision Press’s operation in Cape Town.

The process then moved quickly with the decision to base a new press manufacturing site in Port Elizabeth.

The Servo press arrived in Greenbushes in August, with increased electricity supply for the site secured in October and the installation of the foundation and ancillary equipment completed in December.

Production started in January, with the first parts supplied to Autoliv on January 15, Shuttleworth said.

The Port Elizabeth facility houses the hi-tech Servo press and is the base of operations for the Servo metal press division.

At full capacity, it will employ 30 people in the city.

HI-TECH EQUIPMENT: Thermo Fluid Engineering managing director P J Fourie, left, was a guest at the launch of a new Servo press in Greenbushes. GUD Holdings Port Elizabeth plant manager Flip Gunter explains the press’s instrumentation