Engineering consumables manufacturer and distributor Dask Distributors has partnered exclusively with Saint-Gobain Tape Solutions to locally manufacture automotive bonding tapes for original-equipment manufacturers (OEM) assembly plants in South Africa.
Dask Distributors notes that it is now able to manufacture bonding tapes after having imported new machinery from CMC in Italy.
The company will be a Tier 1 supplier of Saint-Gobain bonding tapes to the likes of Toyota, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Nissan, Ford and Isuzu.
Bonding tapes are crucial components when it comes to assembling modern vehicles. These tapes are engineered to cater towards the high stresses and bonding requirements of major automotive vehicle assembly lines, Dask notes.
The tapes are further used to assemble interiors, battery packs for electric vehicles, body exteriors, electrical insulation, as well as braking and chassis systems, it adds.
“Historically, the likes of OEMs have purchased bonding tapes from overseas-based companies, thereby introducing a greater degree of cost and complexity to their operations.”
By manufacturing these tapes in South Africa, OEMs should be able to boost their local procurement targets. It will further help them achieve the goals set out in the South African Automotive Master Plan 2035 and earn greater incentives through the Automotive Production and Development Programme.
Dask’s in-house manufacturing capabilities as well as its Level 4 broad-based black economic empowerment compliance make it a solid partner in this regard,” says Dask MD Trent Bomberg.