Mechanical Technology June 2015

⎪ Special report ⎪

Unilever’s SA capacity transformation

Unilever’s R1.4-billion Khanyisa Home Care factory in Boksburg was opened by global CEO Paul Polman and Trade and Industry Minister, Rob Davies on June 2, 2015. The following day, the company’s Indonsa factory expansion was opened in Durban, a R511-million investment.

related to the state of the art technology being used. “This investment has created much needed indirect and direct jobs in our value chain, helping to build the South African economy,” says Polman. Khanyisa is one of several major proj- ects in South Africa and Africa and is part of an overall strategy to upgrade the local supply chain to world-class levels. The investment will ensure a 67% increase in production capacity from 90 000 to 150 000 t per year. The new factory will produce popular brands in liquid form, such as Omo, Handy Andy, Domestos, Comfort and Sunlight, amongst others. Polman says: “Transforming our pro- duction capacity is one of four critical initiatives that we are driving to meet expected growth in demand. The Home Care factory will enable us to better serve consumers with innovation and green technology, whilst simultaneously im- proving service levels for customers. Our aim is to have the right stock at the right place in record time, accurately matching the quantities expected by shoppers.”

Trade and Industry Minister, Rob Davies.

T he Khanyisa factory forms a massive part of Unilever’s R3.0- billion capacity transformation project (CTP) and is aligned to Unilever’s global sustainable living plan (USLP), which strives to reduce the com- pany’s carbon footprint while targeting a doubling of the size of the business. The Khanyisa site has, therefore, been designed to deliver a 50% reduction in carbon emissions and a 70% reduction in water usage per ton of product produced. In addition, Unilever’s investments re- quire significant new skills development

Unilever’s global CEO Paul Polman.

The four critical initiatives for the Khanyisa factory are: • Increasing capacity to meet growth ambitions. • Improved efficiency to reduce cost. • Improved technology to improve quality. • Improved technology to reduce envi- ronmental impact. The brand new factory, a project that began in 2013, includes green and world-first technologies. According to

Unilever’s new R1.4 billion Khanyisa Home Care factory in Boksburg.

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Mechanical Technology — June 2015