• 400 000^th unit produced on Monday 21 June
• The Kariega plant has been building the current Polo since 2017

Kariega – Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) celebrated another production milestone, when the 400 000^th unit of the current Volkswagen Polo rolled off the production line in Kariega (formerly Uitenhage).

By the time the 400 000^th Polo rolled off the production line on Monday morning, the plant had produced a total of 61 635 Polos and 10 373 Polo Vivos this year.

This achievement comes less than four years after the plant began manufacturing the current Polo model in September 2017. Of the 400 000 Polos manufactured locally since 2017, 73 786 vehicles were made for the local market and 326 214 were built for export. The Polos built in Kariega are exported to all right-hand-drive markets worldwide, while VWSA also supplements production for left-hand-drive markets.

“This is a proud moment for our team, who have proven their dedication to delivering for our customers in abroad and in South Africa,” said Ulrich Schwabe, Production Director at VWSA. “I would like to thank every employee, whether on the production line, in the office or working from home, for continuously striving for excellence. This milestone could not have happened without their contributions.”

For more information contact:

Andile Dlamini

Head: Group Communications

Volkswagen Group South Africa

Mobile: +27 82 451 5415

Work:    +27 41 994 5042

E-mail:  andile.dlamini@vwsa.co.za

Click HERE to visit their website for the full campaign and more information!

BluTech, a company within the Acoustex Group, supplies technical laminated fabrics for medical and domestic use for both export and local markets.

The lamination technology was developed by the CSIR in Port Elizabeth and commercialized by BreatheTex (Pty) Ltd in 1999.   

Being one of only 4 companies worldwide with this technology, BluTech supplies 2 and 3 ply technical laminated fabric to the medical industry in Europe for medical gowns and drapes.  This superior, high-tech, ultra-performance fabric is super-absorbent, chemical-resistant and impermeable to fluids, providing a barrier against viruses and bacteria. 

The membrane enables the laminated fabric to be waterproof from the outside while at the same time allowing perspiration to pass through from the inside. It ensures that surgeons are protected in that sweat can escape the fabric, but blood can’t enter.

Features include:

• Total barrier to blood and body fluids
• Sterility
• Excellent durability (through laundering process where applicable)
• High breathability and comfort
• Cost effectiveness
• Environmentally friendly

BluTech supplied close to 60 000 metres of medical laminates to Italy during their Covid-19 breakout through our customer Copratex, and locally to both the Life and Netcare Group through local manufacturer, Priontex who is based in Cape Town.

This Level 2 BBBBEE company is based at the Acoustex plant in Neave Industrial in Port Elizabeth and has plans to extend our exports further into Europe and Asia through new product development.

• VWSA re-certified in ISO 9001:2015 and KBA/CoP
• VWSA is first company in Volkswagen Group to conduct this audit remotely

Kariega (Uitenhage) – Following a week-long audit conducted remotely at all their South African sites, Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) has received their re-certification for ISO 9001:2015 and KBA/CoP.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the re-certification audit was conducted remotely from Germany by Tuev Nord, the organisation responsible for auditing Occupational Health, Safety, Environmental and Energy Systems at many of the Volkswagen Group’s plants across the world. This approach – using a combination of Skype, Microsoft Teams and a DJI Osmo Gimbal device for live video and audio streaming – made VWSA the first company in the Volkswagen Group to complete this audit remotely.

The Tuev Nord team was able to view the production process and interview employees virtually, and praised VWSA for the success of the virtual process. “We have done many remote audits with different companies all over the world, but nothing can compare with the remote audit conducted at VWSA. It is the best experience so far,” the team noted.

Though VWSA hosted Tuev Nord for surveillance audits in 2018 and 2019, this is the first re-certification audit since 2017 after the 2020 audit was postponed due to the pandemic. The certifications are a requirement in order for VWSA to export their vehicles to other markets. The results of the 2021 audit showed zero non-conformities, which is an indicator of the Company’s ongoing commitment to excellence.

“Being re-certified sends a clear message to our local and international customers,” said Dr Robert Cisek, Volkswagen Group South Africa Chairman and Managing Director. “It proves that VWSA continues to deliver the highest quality, and that our employees are dedicated to playing their part in achieving that quality. I am proud of, and grateful for, each member of our workforce that contributed to this achievement.”

For more information contact:

Andile Dlamini

Head: Group Communications

Volkswagen Group South Africa

Mobile: +27 82 451 5415

Work:    +27 41 994 5042

E-mail:  andile.dlamini@vwsa.co.za

AUDI CENTRE PORT ELIZABETH is proud to announce that it has partnered with Red Band to assist unemployed youth in Nelson Mandela Bay to gain skills which could see them moving on to being gainfully employed.

Red Band, part of the Leva Foundation, equips unemployed youth with the skills and personal resources to find meaningful employment in the professional coffee industry.

“When Red Band approached us, we immediately agreed to let their team take over our Quattro Café as their training ground to upskill unemployed youth. Tavcor Motor Group is committed to the meaningful empowerment of youth in Nelson Mandela Bay. The Baristas are employed through Tavcor Motor Group’s YES4Youth Campaign which has been running for 2 years already”, said Bjorn van Bochove, Dealer Principal, Audi Centre PE. 

The candidates will be taken through a journey of coffee.  Beginning with the Work 4 a Living Course, candidates are taught how to become valuable to the employer, to take control of their lives and to look forward to a brighter future. They then complete a course focusing on Coffee and hospitality skills.  After 3 weeks, these new Baristas are ready to pour industry standard espresso based beverages.

The second part of the training teaches the new Baristas to become managers – showing them how to handle responsibilities such as opening- up, cashing up, placing orders, dealing with suppliers and stock taking. 

“Seeing someone come alive through learning a skill which encourages their creative talent and earns them a living brings a smile to everyone involved” said Ryan le Roux, Managing Director, Leva Foundation.

On this journey, an unemployed young person will be trained and mentored along the way – from Barista to Manager to Profit Share Holder to Business Owner.

More information about the Leva Foundation can be obtained from Ryan le Roux, Managing Director on 072 010 1385.

Audi Centre Port Elizabeth is part of the Tavcor Motor Group, a family managed Volkswagen, Audi and Suzuki Dealership Group in Port Elizabeth and George.      

Photo Credit: The Herald

Barista Fikisiwe Qwane pours a cup of coffee for Bjorn van Bochove, Dealer Principal, Audi Centre and for Ryan le Roux, MD Leva Foundation.

For more information:

Bev Gaia

Gaia Marketing

083 657 5671

bev@gaiamarketing.co.za     

Community Chest’s annual Winter Woolly Drive in collaboration with SPAR Eastern Cape kicked off on 1^st of June 2021.

The cold winter snap has finally arrived and for most of us winter is the month of comfort where we snuggle under warm blankets, enjoy a warm plate of food and a hot drink. This is sadly not shared by our vulnerable community members who face these enormous challenges of making it through the winter period. 

There are many who don’t have shelter, no shoes, no blankets or warm clothes.

In the first week of the drive we received an overwhelming amount of donated items.

One specific donation pulled our heartstrings. Children from the ACVV HAAS DAS Day Care Centre in Algoa Park invited Community Chest to their one day without shoe project. They donated their shoes and clothing towards the Winter Woolly Drive.

We invite all companies and individuals to open up their hearts just like those children at ACVV Haas Das Day Care Centre. Donations can be dropped off at the Waterfront SPAR, Summerbreeze SUPERSPAR, Sundridge SUPERSPAR and Newton Park SUPERSPAR or call our office on 041 582 15 92.

The Winter Woolly Drive will run from 1^stJune until the end of 31^st August 2021.

If you would like to contribute or pledge a donation towards purchasing blankets, go to our website: www.cchestpe.org.za

Let’s warm the hearts of the vulnerable this winter.