Filtration solutions manufacturer Mann + Hummel has opened its first factory in Africa, in Kempton Park, Gauteng.

“This is a new chapter for Mann + Hummel South Africa, which started here in a small office in 2016. This state-of-the-art production facility will not only serve South Africa and the Southern African Development Community, but also the sub-Saharan Africa region,” said Mann + Hummel automotive aftermarket president and GM Cedric Dackam.

By manufacturing locally, the company can meet the unique needs of its African markets. It also provides job opportunities in the region.

The factory would initially employ 24 people, but this was expected to increase to 100, based on its potential output and if demand from customers held firm, Dackam said at the launch of the factory on March 25.

The facility uses rooftop solar to power the operations and it adheres to international best practices in terms of recycling and resource efficiency.

“This ensures we can produce in an environmentally responsible way, while maintaining the high quality standards expected by our customers,” said Dackam.

The factory is highly automated, as is typical of Mann + Hummel's factories, with workers using sophisticated machines to produce the range of polyurethane, metal and cabin air filters for vehicles it makes.

The factory has been designed for high-mix, low-volume production in which the machines can quickly be switched to produce different filter variants, based on the needs of end-user customers or the needs of its channel partners, said Mann + Hummel South Africa plant manager Lenny Govender.

The local factory's initial focus will be on filters for passenger, commercial and off-highway vehicles. This reduces lead times and enables the company to respond more rapidly to the local market.

The cost benefits included reduced shipping costs and associated costs, such as delays. The new factory ensured a more stable supply of products were available to customers and that these could be adapted to local needs, he said.

“We have started with a range of 30 filters we produce here, and we are busy adding 33 more filter products, based on data from our partners and customers and local vehicle use. This is currently a work in progress,” Govender pointed out.

In addition to filters for the automotive industry, the company’s international operations also produce filters for other applications, such as water and air filtration systems for buildings, airports and clean rooms in high-technology industries, as well as for water treatment plants, water recycling plants and wastewater treatment plants.

The company intended to take a similar approach to water and air filters as it did with its vehicle filters, namely first importing the filters before looking at opportunities for local manufacturing, Dackam noted.

“Over the coming months and years, opportunities to increase our manufacturing presence for these life sciences and environment filters will depend on customer needs and demands.

“Our water filters are more suited to technical tenders. South Africa and countries in the region have challenges with water shortages and there is not enough recycling of wastewater. We can support initiatives to reduce these challenges,” he said.

The company, which operates in more than 80 locations worldwide and has 31 research and development centres, is also developing a desalination membrane.

“This filter will probably be produced in Europe first, scaled-up and then produced locally [in regions] where there is sufficient demand. This is the process we follow to use each segment of our business productively and sustainably,” he said.