Tyre manufacturers appoint new executive

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She is filling the gap left by industry veteran, Dr Etienne Human, who has worked in the tyre industry for 23 years, and has been at the helm of SATMC for the past 16 years.

SATMC is a representative body consisting of the four South African tyre manufactures Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear and Sumitomo. Together these manufacturers produced a total of 8.6 million tyres in 2014 for the South African market and export.

"My role at SATMC allows me an in-depth view into the tyre production industry - a significant contributor to our country's economy and one of the key supporting industries for the automotive industry," says Mangcu. "The automotive industry has very strong growth prospects in South Africa."

Recent investments

Most recently, Sumitomo announced a R1.1bn investment into its Ladysmith factory, increasing capacity and upgrading the technology used in the plant. Sumitomo produces tyres for the Chevrolet Utility and will begin supplying tyres for new models of Volkswagen and Toyota vehicles in 2016. Additionally, Continental Tyres recently invested a total of R65m in a new coal boiler house.

"The opportunity to work with the local tyre manufacturers to identify opportunities to grow the tyre industry further and ensure that South Africa remains a sustainable location for tyre manufacturing excites me tremendously," says Mangcu.

Similarly, Human says that he has found great fulfilment in making a contribution to the industry, creating a platform for the success and sustainability of the tyre industry in South Africa.

Mangcu's focus for SATMC will be on finding workable solutions to the challenges facing the South African tyre industry in order to retain and grow tyre production in South Africa, while finding opportunities to enhance government and industry co-operation to work together towards this objective.