Britains Rolls-Royce has pumped up to R50mn (US$3.7mn) into upgrading and redesigning diesel engine manufacturer MTU South Africas facility in Cape Town
The new facility will assemble, test, paint and commission 232 MTU 20V Series 4000 R63l engines, to be used in freight locomotives operated by South African rail freight company Transnet Freight Rail (TFR).
In a major supply deal, Rolls-Royce will deliver the 20-cyclinder engines, with a power output of 3,300kw, to the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC). They will then be installed by CRRC in Class 45 locomotives managed by TFR.
Andrea Nono, CEO of MTU South Africa said, "Our aim is to supply our African customers and partners with world-class products. The new facilities and our skilled staff will enable us to do this now with locally produced engines."
A new, ultra-modern paint booth using environmentally-friendly paints, a test bench and assembly and logistics area upgrade, and the acquisition of new cranes feature as part of the facility's improvements.
Bernd Krüper, vice president industrial business at MTU added, "Africa is an extremely interesting market for us and one in which we see enormous growth potential. We regard the upgrading of our facility in Cape Town as an important strategic step towards deepening our partnership with customers in Africa."
