R150m eco-friendly blanket factory will create 1 000 jobs

A MANUFACTURING company has opened a R150 million eco-friendly blanket factory in Boksburg, on the East Rand, which will see it creating 1 000 direct jobs and significant employment opportunities indirectly, the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) has said.

The factory would produce textile products using recycled polyester products, such as plastic mineral water bottles. The official opening of the factory took place on Friday.

YI LI DA SA manufacturing chairman Yong Qian said the opening of the factory represented a milestone in progress being made through the China-Africa relationship. “For China, it facilitates its development in African countries it contributes to the achievement of industrialisation, foreign investment, and economic development.”

The blanket manufacturing would be carried out in two phases, the first phase being the blanket weaving manufacturing line that would be established. Polyester filament yarn, the raw material for this manufacturing process, would be imported from China. “In the second phase, local polyester plastic bottles will be utilised as raw material to manufacture polyester filament yarn and a texturing factory will be set up. This will also lead to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.”

The manufacturing process was unique as manufacturers were still using acrylic fibres as the main material. In 2003, the government listed blanket products as one of the country’s anti-dumping products.

Therefore, producing blankets locally would significantly reduce the costs, he said. Also speaking at the opening, dti’s acting head of investment promotion and inter-departmental clearing house, Yunus Hoosen, said the investment would help up-scale the economy and industrialisation. “The investment and technology used and the up-scaling is in line with our industrial policy action plan and industrialisation plans to expand our manufacturing base and oversee investments that are sustainable in the long run,” he said.

Hoosen said it was pleasing to see Chinese companies leading the way in manufacturing, expanding localisation, and producing locally instead of importing. The investment would also boost the local textile sector. – ANA