By Xolile Hopa

Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSAf) has spent close to R30 million upgrading its commercial vehicle assembly plant in Gqeberha, in a bid to boost efficiency, tighten quality control and prepare the facility for a new generation of trucks.

The upgrades hit the chassis and engine sub-assembly areas and the cab marriage line. A longer chassis line adds room for extra stations, while new tooling and smarter layouts let the plant build a wider range of commercial vehicles

Digital traceability has also been improved, giving managers greater visibility across production and helping the plant maintain consistent build quality.

Employee safety and ergonomics were a key part of the upgrade. The plant has added a fuel-tank gripper, lift-assist devices, a cab-marriage hoist and electronic torque tools, and has reworked the engine-dress process, all to reduce physical strain on workers.

Energy-efficient tools and motors and streamlined workflows are meant to cut resource use and lower the plant’s environmental footprint.IMSAf said employees and cross-functional engineering teams were involved in implementing the changes.

“This investment is about more than preparing our plant for a new generation of trucks,” said Johan Vermeulen, Executive Vice President: Manufacturing and Product Engineering at IMSAf. “It reflects our long-term vision for manufacturing in South Africa and our confidence in the country’s people, industrial capability and potential.”

Vermeulen said continued investment in Gqeberha would strengthen the capability and capacity needed to stay competitive and meet the changing mobility needs of customers across Africa.

The company said the upgrades support its long-term growth and contribute to a competitive, resilient and increasingly sustainable automotive manufacturing sector in South Africa.