Photo by: Marleny Arnoldi
Tissue manufacturer the Twinsaver Group on Friday opened a new manufacturing plant in Kliprivier, on the border of the Midvaal and Ekurhuleni municipalities, in Gauteng.
The R500-million plant increases Twinsaver Group's tissue manufacturing capability by 25 000 t/y to 75 000 t/y – making it the largest tissue manufacturer in sub-Saharan Africa.
The facility boasts a machine, which was procured from Italian multinational Toscotec, that is capable of producing between 1 800 m to 2 000 m of tissue material a minute. The tissue material can then be used to produce toilet paper, dry wipes and facial tissues.
Optimum design of the machine enables toilet tissue, facial tissue and dry wipes to be produced from one machine.
The machine is the first of its kind to be used in the southern hemisphere.
The Twinsaver Group CEO Garth Towell noted that tissue consumption in South Africa is growing by 20% a year.
Meanwhile, Small Business Development Deputy Minister Cassel Mathale said 200 jobs had been created during the construction of the plant, while a further 15 to 20 new jobs had been created for operating the plant.
The company will also incorporate small, medium-sized and microenterprises in supplying materials to be processed.
“We are highly conscious of the role that Twinsaver Group has to play in interaction with business and most importantly social partners, towards a better economy for all,” commented Twinsaver Group chairperson Richard Fienberg.