Serco’s Phoenix factory will add new permanent jobs

TRUCK and trailer body building company Serco Industries is set to double the production capacity at its new factory building in Phoenix Industrial Park in Durban, thereby creating an additional 20 new permanent jobs.

Clinton Holcroft, the managing director of Serco, said yesterday about 6 000m2 of additional undercover space had been added to the company’s existing factory.

Holcroft said the expansion of the factory was necessary because they wanted to upgrade the manufacturing of panels in line with new tooling and manufacturing technology for the panels available overseas but the new imported press could not fit into the existing factory.

He said this was achieved by Serco acquiring some land adjacent to its existing factory about 18 months ago and building a completely new factory onto the existing factory.

He said the building of the new factory was complete and the new equipment would be commissioned later this year.

“The whole project was driven by upgrading production to produce more world-class products,” he said.

Holcroft said about R40 million had been invested in the expansion project, which would double Serco’s production capacity from two units to four units a day, giving the company a lot of scope for growth over the next few years.

He said the Durban factory currently employed about 180 people and would create about 20 new positions when the new equipment was commissioned.

Serco, a private company whose major shareholders are Holcroft and his father Trevor, specialises in the design and manufacturing of refrigerated and dry freight truck bodies and 15.5-metre trailers.

Holcroft said Serco’s customer base was driven by the end-users, such as major retail chains and fleet owners.

He said the injection panel manufacturing process made possible by the new press would be a first in southern Africa in the area of refrigerated vehicle building.

“It will set a new benchmark for us in terms of panel strength and thermal efficiency.

“We are excited about the potential of the new facility which is going to change the way we manufacture.

“A production line principle will bring improved efficiencies and increased output.”

Holcroft said that several “green” elements had been included in the new factory, including clear sheeting along the sides of the building to provide natural lighting and a system to store rain water for use in the wash bays.

A dock leveller for easy and efficient handling of materials was another new feature in the factory, he said.