Regular visits are conducted by the Managing Director of Air Products to ensure strategic alignment throughout all facilities and across all levels of the organisation L – R: JP van Wyk (Regional Manager, Eastern Cape), Maropeng Bahula (GM – Technical), Rob Richardson (Managing Director), Seelan Gounden (GM – Supply Chain), Sizwe Nkonde (GM – Packaged Gas) and Vincent Ntuli (Plant Supervisor – Coega IDZ)
Air Products’ success in the Eastern Cape was recently celebrated as the Packaged Gas Facility in Deal Party received a Noscar award for maintaining its outstanding safety record for the thirteenth consecutive year. Furthermore, after launching the state-of-the art facility at the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) three years ago, this facility celebrated obtaining its
ISO 14000, ISO 9001 and ISO 22000 accreditations.
Air Products was the frontrunner to launch an air separation unit (ASU) in the Coega IDZ in November 2014. The investment formed part of a R2 billion investment pipeline, and was specifically aimed at providing a supply chain network to the local industries and contributing towards the economic growth in the Eastern Cape region.
Rob Richardson, Managing Director at Air Products comments on the region: “The Coega investment was made to further support the local industries in the area. Our Packaged Gas Facility in Deal Party has been serving our customers well over the years, and we made a strategic decision to extend our resources in the area and also provide a secure supply of industrial gas through our ASU.
The outstanding safety record of the Deal Party Facility makes it evident that this facility formed a solid base for our organisation to build from in the region”.
“Through the recent ISO accreditations acquired at our facility in the Coega IDZ, Air Products highlights the quality systems we have invested in to further strengthen and support industries in the region as we are now in a position to also service and supply customers in industries such as food and beverage”, says Richardson.
Richardson concludes: “Air Products is focused on providing innovative solutions and superior service for a variety of applications to different industries in the region. However, safety and quality remains the core of our business. We are optimistic about the economy in the Eastern Cape and positioned to support businesses in the region”.