TMH Africa invests R500-m in rail manufacturing facility in Boksburg
The relaunched plant boasts over 100 years of manufacturing and servicing of rolling stock.
TMH Africa officially unveiled its 45 000m² rolling stock manufacturing, assembling and service plant in Boksburg, which will also serve as a gateway into the rest of Africa, on April 2.
TMH Africa is a subsidiary of the Russian rail rolling stock manufacturer Transmashholding (TMH), and the company has invested R500-million in its recently acquired plant in Boksburg.
The CEO of TMH Africa, Jerome Boyet, told the Advertiser that TMH will be using the facility to manufacture, assemble and service locomotives and other rolling stock for South Africa and the African continent as a whole.
The factory will further create more job opportunities, support local suppliers in the rail manufacturing and services industry, thus contributing to the city’s economy.
“Our decision to invest in South Africa, is in part a response to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for more investment, but also informed by our understanding that South Africa’s real potential to become a leader in rolling stock manufacturing for Africa remains untapped,” said Boyet.
He says that TMH Africa intends to position itself as an implementation partner of choice to other OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) that are seeking localising their activities and increase their efficiency and capacity in delivering on their orders.
“Our focus will be on contractual manufacturing and services for both locomotives and coaches, based on the key strengths of TMH Group,” he notes.
TMH Africa is 70 per cent owned by TMH International and 30 per cent owned by MJISA, a South African investment company.
Speaking at the unveiling, Gauteng Premier David thanked the Russian company for choosing South Africa as its investment destination.
“This is the right decision you have made, and the half-a-billion you have invested here is going to serve jobs.
“Part of the reason why we are welcoming you is that you are not just here to serve jobs, but to also modernise, and this is in line with our strategy: transformation, modernisation and reindustrialisation.
Makhura said TMH arrived at the right time when the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) and Transnet have to overhaul their rolling stock, which is in bad condition.
During the event, the premier disclosed that the provincial government would soon take over the operations of trains from Prasa, adding that there was also a law passed in parliament for urban regions to run integrated public transport systems.
“We are now going to be responsible for integrating Prasa and the Gautrain. The new public transport system will just be like the Gautrain by standard, look and feel and efficiency,” said Makhura.
Led by the premier and TMH management, attendees also went on a guided tour of the factory.
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