|
|
Formex Industries
|
Formex Industries Overview |
Formex Industries is strategically located in South Africa, the African continent’s most vibrant economic centre. Nestling on the East Coast in the city of Port Elizabeth, Formex Industries presents a primary economic driving force in the region. Port Elizabeth has a population in excess of 1,8 million people and is the largest city in the Eastern Cape and the fifth largest city in South Africa.
Dubbed the “Friendly City”, Port Elizabeth is also home to the largest automotive cluster in South Africa and plays host to a large number of component suppliers and related industries. As such, the city, aided by an extensive hub of catalytic converter manufacturers, is one of the primary contributors to the national economy.
Situated approximately halfway between the Ports of Cape Town to the south-west and Durban to the north-east, the company is ideally placed to effect efficient logistics operations both inside the country and for export markets. Formex Industries also enjoys easy access to the country’s largest regional economy – Gauteng – by road, air or rail.
The company also has strategic business units in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa’s primary business centre, as well as in Ga Rankuwa, North West Province and in East London.
The company has developed first world business strategies to meet the stringent requirements of its OEM as well as Catalytic Converter customers. It produces a diverse, complex range of products, both for the local market and, increasingly, for export. It is particularly proud to be involved in several automotive export programmes.
In 2004, Formex Industries acquired Baisch Engineering and in 2007 AutoTube Manufacturing joined the Formex stable. The organisation has now included them all under the Formex Industries banner.
|
|
Mission Vision and values |
|
Formex Industries will be a technological, competitive entity in the development, fabrication and supply of automotive metal formed components.
We will achieve our goals through:
-
Leading technologies and superior technical support
- World class manufacturing capabilityExcellent service and customer orientation
- Striving towards world competitive standards and continuous productivity improvements
- Motivated and empowered workforce through employment equity, focus and teamwork culture
- Acting in a socially and environmentally responsible manner
- Ensuring long-term prosperity for all our stakeholders i.e. shareholders, customers, employees and suppliers
Formex Industries forms part of the HCI Group. This diverse organisation has interests in a wide range of different companies. A brief outline of the HCI Group structure follows.
|
Hosken Consolidated Investments Limited (HCI) is a leading black empowerment company listed on the JSE Securities Exchange (JSE) with a market capitalisation in excess of 12 billion Rand.
In 1997, the investment arms of the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) acquired control of HCI by reversing a number of their investments into HCI.
HCI is primarily focused on making private equity investments and then adding value to these over time. The company’s investment policy is to maintain a significant equity and capital participation in companies with strong growth potential.
|
|
Key Players and board of directors |
Formex Industries has a number of key role players whose task it is to ensure that the company meets world class manufacturing standards. They are:
Johan Swart – Chief Executive Officer, Formex Industries (Pty) Ltd
B.Mechanical Engineering
Johan Swart is a shareholder and Chief Executive Officer of Formex Industries. He worked in various manufacturing positions at Ford Motor Company, including his previous position as Plant Manager. He joined Formex in 2003.
Andre van der Veen – Chairman, Formex Industries (Pty) Ltd
B.Com (Hons), CA(SA), CFA, ACMA
Andre joined HCI in 2004 after it’s acquisition of Mettle in 2004. He was appointed chief executive officer of Johnnic Holdings Limited in November 2006. He holds directorships in numerous companies including Tsogo Sun Holdings, Clover Industries Limited and Formex.
Werner van Rensburg – Commercial Director, Formex Industries (Pty) Ltd
M.Mechanical Engineering, MBA EMLog, GCC (ML &OH)
Joined Formex 2006, Managing Director. Previously Board Member (Group Operations Director) Aspen Pharmacare, Manufacturing Director Shatterprufe and Board Member. Strategic Projects Manager and Production Manager Daimler Chrysler SA.
Hennie Venter – Operations Director, Formex Industries (Pty) Ltd
B.Industrial Engineering, MBA (Business management) B.
Hennie Venter was the Managing Director of Baisch Engineering and is currently Operations Director of Formex Industries (Pty) Ltd. He was previously operations manager at Ford Motor Company and prior to that held various positions at Daimler Chrysler for a period of 7 years. His dealings at Daimler Chrysler included several overseas assignments in Europe.
|
|
HCI uses investments to fund SACTWU’s welfare programme. These funds are spent on projects and initiatives that impact on the lives of workers and their families. HCI is one of the few JSE companies with broadly based black empowerment shareholders, and HCI believes that it is critical to support all initiatives that contribute to empowerment.
During 2006, Formex Industries donated an amount of R100 000.00 to the Aids Haven, an organisation that cares for children affected by HIV/AIDS. The company also donated R30 000.00 to the Motherwell Soccer Association for the development of their league. A further R10 000.00 was given to the Stone Breakers Football Club for the purchase of new Soccer Kit.
In 2007 Formex Industries donated R100 000.00 each to two organisations, namely Cornerstone and Siyakhathala. Siyakhatala, which is based in Cottrell Street, Korsten, Port Elizabeth, cares for Street Boys. Cornerstone, based in Durban Road, also in Korsten, cares for orphanaged children, children affected and infected by HIV, as well as the abused and mentally disturbed.
|
|
Some years ago, the South African government put in place the Motor Industry Development Programme (MIDP) in order to support the automotive industry and to assist it in breaching the gap created prior to 1994. Its primary aim was to enable the South African automotive industry to become world class and in so doing, to integrate it into global supply chains.
That the programme has been successful can be seen by the fact that every single South African automotive manufacturer today has in place a fully-fledged export programme. Formex Pressings is particularly proud that it has been able to participate in many of these programmes by supplying components to these manufacturers.
|
|
The HCI Group has a strong and sound investment strategy in place. While the Group is a broad organisation with interests in many different industries, it has ensured that it does not dilute any of its core competencies in each of its particular fields.
Indeed, it has put management teams in place in each of the different companies within the Group, who are all specialists in their particular fields. This allows them to focus on the particular needs of their company.
For instance, Formex Industries (encompassing Formex Pressings, Baisch Engineering and Formex Tubing) is an organisation made up of highly skilled Mechanical, Industrial & Metallurgical Engineers. Particular competencies are the development, manufacturing and supply of pressed components for the catalytic converter and OEM markets, welding components and assembly, as well as poly-V-pulleys and door lock mechanisms and assemblies.
Formex Industries has an in-depth and intimate knowledge of world-class manufacturing systems, including Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma. In addition, it has strong Quality Systems in place and is recognised as a global supplier to the wide range of automotive and component manufacturers listed in this document.
Formex Industries has developed strong relationships into Europe and at present, most of its business relationships are based there. It has also secured an export contract to the North American market.
|
|
A new Learnership Programme is scheduled to commence at Formex Industries in August 2007. Ten learnerships are on offer to previously disadvantaged employees: six in Toolmaking, two in Electrical Engineering and two in Fitting. Preference will be given to Females and Africans.
|
|
At Formex Industries, training is regarded as one of the most important aspects of developing our people and producing quality products. We invest in our people by training on an extensive range of subjects. All levels of staff have their training needs assessed once a year. Training gaps are identified for each employee and scheduled on the company training register.
|
|
|
