From left: Edward Mzingaye, Head of Quality, Export and SHERQ at DTSA; Derick Archery, Head of Product & Process at DTSA; Elvis Moodley, Sales Executive at NMI Commercial Vehicles Durban; Augustine Daliwe, Head of Production at DTSA; Gladstone Mtyoko, Vice President for Manufacturing at DTSA; Nelen Gounder, CEO Sesfigile Logistics and Safety One Logisitcs.
Earlier in August, Daimler Truck Southern Africa (DTSA) had the pleasure of officially rolling off the 800,000th Completely Knocked Down (CKD) unit, a Mercedes-Benz Actros 2645LS/33, from their assembly line.
This occasion was not only a joint celebration for the East London based DTSA manufacturing plant and its source plant in Woerth, but also a celebration with their loyal customers: Sesfigile Logistics and Safety One Logistics, who bought the truck in commemoration of their respective 20th and 10th anniversaries.
Both companies are owned and operated by Nelen Gounder, who took delivery of the unit at the plant.
The largest truck assembly plant of Mercedes-Benz Trucks was founded in Woerth am Rhein in 1963. The Actros, Arocs and Atego model series are built here.
The Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks Econic, Unimog and Zetros are also built in Woerth. In 2021, series production of the battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 300/400 for distribution haulage started in the plant.
In 2022, the second Mercedes-Benz eEconic electric series-production truck for municipal use followed. In October 2023, the eActros 600 for long-distance haulage was presented to the global public and will go into series production in Woerth at the end of 2024.
With around 10,000 employees, the Mercedes-Benz Woerth plant is the second largest employer in Rhineland-Palatinate. Research, development, and production work hand in hand at the site, which covers an area of almost three million square meters, and are closely interlinked, among other things, by the EVZ Development and Truck Testing Center located at the site.
“The Woerth plant is an integral partner contributing to our company’s success due to their high reliability, flexibility and quality standards. Being able to produce our products from CKD-Kits instead of importing Fully Built Units (FBUs) has a major cost advantage for our customers and allows DTSA to remain competitive within the market,” said Olaf Petersen, Vice President Sales & Marketing.
“I would like to congratulate Sesfigile Logistics and Safety One Logistics for taking delivery of the 800,000th CKD truck. This unit, in particular, was built by our highly capable staff with the most amazing, proudly South African, spirit and pride.”
The DTSA Assembly Plant in East London has a rich history spanning more than 60 years. The very first Mercedes-Benz Truck, the L-type, rolled off the assembly line in 1962.
Fast forward to 2024, thousands of trucks and buses have rolled off the assembly line since. Employing approximately 300 people, the plant is a crucial employer for the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality and currently one of the biggest CKD-plants for Daimler Truck outside of Europe.
In 2019, DTSA also received the 750,000th CKD unit for assembly, a Mercedes-Benz Actros 2652 LS 6×4.
“Our plant operates in a very complex production environment, as products from four different source plants are assembled on a single production line,” said Gladstone Mtyoko, Vice President for Manufacturing.
“Despite this complexity, we consistently deliver the highest quality products for our customers. The assembly of the 800,000th CKD unit is a massive milestone for the Woerth plant, as well as our local assembly plant. Being selected to assemble this unit was a great honor for our employees and motivates the team to continue delivering each unit on the assembly line with the same passion and dedication.”
Nelen Gounder, CEO of Sesfigile Logistics and Safety One Logistics had the following to say:
“We believe in keeping up with the latest truck technology to remain competitive, hence forging a strong partnership with the Mercedes-Benz Trucks brand and NMI Commercial Vehicles Durban.
“The safety features of Mercedes-Benz Trucks are unparalleled and paramount to our service offering. Taking delivery of the 800,000th CKD truck holds special significance for us, as this year, Sesfigile Logistics is celebrating its 20-year anniversary and Safety One Logistics its 10-year anniversary. This unit not only represents our amazing history but also a start of a new decade for both companies, rejuvenating its brand identities and values.”
Sesfigile Logistics boost a fleet of over 200 trucks with a focus on the transportation of beverages and petroleum.
They offer local, national and cross-border logistics, committed to being a leader in the transportation sector. Safety One Logistics offer logistics services for petroleum and the handling of specialised products grounded on precision, safety and efficiency.
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