MANN+HUMMEL opens South African Production Facility

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA: Leading filtration specialists MANN+HUMMEL is proud to announce the latest addition to its worldwide manufacturing network, a brand-new manufacturing plant in Kempton Park outside Johannesburg. In its initial phase, the 3200 square-meters facility will be the epicenter of MANN+HUMMEL’s supply to the local commercial vehicle, passenger car and off highway and industrial aftermarket industries.

A manufacturing hub in Southern Africa is the culmination of a project that started in 2016 when MANN+HUMMEL identified South Africa, the largest automotive market on the continent of Africa, as the suitable location to lay down roots in Africa. The first major milestone was the foundation of a Sales Office followed by the establishment of an Aftermarket Distribution Center serving southern Africa.

The clear vision to manufacture in Africa has now been realized with the opening of the manufacturing plant in Johannesburg. The facility will serve as a strategic hub for sub-Saharan African market as it lays the groundwork for further expansion into Africa. Local production will allow MANN+HUMMEL to strengthen its position as an industry leader throughout the region. “This plant in South Africa is a key milestone in MANN+HUMMEL Africa’s business growth strategy and this investment shows our clear commitment to supporting our customers in this market” said Kurk Wilks, President & CEO of MANN+HUMMEL, at the opening ceremony. “Aligned with our ‘in the region, for the region’ approach, regional production of our products offers our customers more competitive and responsive choices offering more value to their customers”.

The new plant will commence operations in March 2025 with numerous jobs created for the skilled local workforce from inception. The number of employees will further increase as production ramps up to full, three-shift capacity.

This facility will be responsible for producing high-performance filters for commercial vehicles, passenger cars and off highway and industrial vehicles. Solar power will be used extensively in the day-to-day operations of the plant. In keeping with the company’s sustainable production ethos, it will also employ the 3R initiatives: reduce, re-use and recycle to ensure minimal environmental impact.

“The opening of our new production plant in Johannesburg, South Africa, is a giant leap for our local African team. We aim to deliver innovative and reliable solutions tailored to local markets. Our flexible and responsive manufacturing process allows us to meet the specific needs of our Independent Aftermarket customers in the SADC region. We are confident that this new chapter will bring growth and prosperity to the local community” said Dr. Rostislav Khyr, COO / Group Vice President Global Operations Transportation.

Parent company, MANN+HUMMEL is widely regarded as one of the leaders in the filtration industry. The German based company has over eighty years of experience in the field. From a mobility perspective there are offerings for automotive manufacturing, railway, maritime, e-mobility, and airplanes. Further offerings include filtration solutions for water, agriculture, mining, medical, food and beverage as well as healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

“Africa is the world’s fastest growing continent in terms of population averaging 20 years old. Its GDP growth is predicted to be among the fastest growing in the world among the next 20 years. Thus, we are confident that Africa’s economic importance will continue to grow, and as filtration experts, we will sustainably support this growth. This investment is a clear commitment to our ongoing efforts to expand our footprint in Africa. We are currently examining the possibilities for further commitments in other African countries. The markets in Africa have enormous potential and offer MANN+HUMMEL opportunities for growth.” added Cedric Dackam, President & General Manager for the Automotive Aftermarket.

Cavin Hearne, Managing Director of MANN+HUMMEL Southern Africa added, “We place a high-level of importance on our South African clients and our ability to serve them efficiently. This facility, and this team is committed to putting the customer first in all we do. From this facility we can provide quicker response times as well as better service to our clients in South and Southern Africa.”