R50m pledge powers engine for growth
Rolls-Royce money used to create local job opportunities
ALOCAL engine manufacturer is expanding and taking on more staff thanks to a R50 million investment by British car manufacturer Rolls-Royce. Motor Turbine Units (MTU) officially opened its redesigned and upgraded facility in Montague Gardens yesterday.
The workshop produces locomotive engines with the power of up to eight Ferraris, which are sent to Durbanto be installed in Transnet freight trains.
The business, which assembles, tests, paints and commissions the 9.7-tonne engines, has not shied away from hiring women in a male-dominated industry.
“I think I’m a good example of that, as a woman, you can excel in a male-dominated industry,” MTU chief executive Andrea Nono said, “because for me diversity is a very important topic and part of that is gender diversity.
“For us, being part of the bigger Transnet procurement process is an honour, and if I’m not mistaken, we’re the only engine supplier. We’re very proud of that because it has given not only us the opportunity to employ more people, but also the contractors and suppliers we work with.”
Bernd Kruper, vice president of Industrial Business at MTU, said the deal with Rolls-Royce was good news for the country’s struggling economy.
“It’s a big deal for South Africa’s economy and we are indeed happy and proud to be able to contribute to that.”
Engine technician Pam Maphanga, who had been with the company for four years, said she was glad she had followed her dreams and hadn’t studied nursing.
“Everyone at home, from my mom to my aunties, they are all nurses. But because I can’t really work with blood, I looked at other career options,” Maphanga said. “So I studied electrical engineering.”
Maphanga said working in a “boys’ club” had not always been easy.
“When I started working for MTU, I was the only woman in the workshop. Everything was so scary, but I got a lot of support from the guys – the technicians, management, from everyone,” she said.
“I never gave up, I fought for my place in this company and have come a long way from being an apprentice to where I am today.”
Maphanga said she was proud of the company because it had “created a lot of job opportunities, not only inside the company itself, but other smaller companies have also benefited and have also been able to increased staff ”.
Nono said the Transnet commission was a positive thing for the country.
“For us as MTU South Africa, this deal is really significant because this is one of the success stories to talk about and say ‘yes, local manufacturing is possible’.”