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Over the past five years, Volkswagen AG has invested over R5 billion in the modernisation of the Uitenhage manufacturing plant which makes it one of the most environmentally responsible and energy-efficient plants in the southern hemisphere.
"Volkswagen AG is very proud of what VWSA has achieved over the past six decades and today’s opening of the press shop reiterates our commitment to VWSA and South Africa," said Dr Dr Hubert Waltl, the chairperson of the Volkswagen Group South Africa’s (VWSA) Board of Management
"It also marks the culmination of our investment in enhancing the position of VWSA as one of our key manufacturing plants within the Volkswagen production network, he said.
VWSA is the first manufacturing plant in the Volkswagen production network and in the world to install a press line that combines Wave Motion technology together with the Cobra robotics technology.
"The continuous Wave Technology, which was jointly developed by Fagor, a Spanish Press manufacturing company and Kuka, a German automation Company, is designed to allow presses to cycle in a wave pattern unlike the conventional press lines in which presses cycle together."
‘The Cobra’ robots get its name from the striking movement of the cobra. The robot moves parts through the press process much faster than conventional systems. This leads to a 30% reduction in energy consumption.
"Apart from being the first Wave Motion with Cobra robotics press shop in the world, the Uitenhage press shop is also the newest and most environmentally friendly press shop in the Volkswagen Group production network," said Waltl.
"Last year, we launched the Think Blue. Factory strategy within all Volkswagen plants, including Uitenhage. The new strategy will ensure that all our factories reduce their waste, water, energy and emissions by 25% by 2018 from the 2010 levels," he added.
VWSA says the new press shop is currently on the ramp up phase and will be fully operational in July 2013.
VWSA’s manufacturing plant in Uitenhage produces right-hand drive Polo and CrossPolo for local and international markets as well as Polo Vivo for the South African market only. Polo Vivo and Polo were the best-selling passenger cars in 2012 with 34 873 and 28 667 sales respectively.
The Managing Director of VWSA, David Powels said Polo Vivo and Polo are important models to VWSA strategy and play an important role in ensuring that it maintains its market leadership in the local passenger car market.
"VWSA ended 2012 as the market leader of the passenger car segment in South Africa for the fourth consecutive year with the total sales of 99 106 units and overall market share of 22.3%. Polo Vivo and Polo accounted for 14.4% of the South African total passenger car market in 2012. This clearly indicates the significance of these two models not only to us as Volkswagen but also to the South African passenger car market," added Powels.
