One of the Western Cape's largest and most established manufacturing and engi- neering companies, Cape Manu-facturing Engineers (CME), has celebrated its sixty-fifth anniversary.
CME is one of the most diversified engineering and manufacturing companies in the Western Cape, comprising CME Precision, CME Automotive, CME Foundry and the CME Fittings division.
CME nonexeucutive director Bernard Ashlin states that CME has achieved this significant milestone in its history despite many challenges faced over the years.
“Our group has had to overcome many challenges over the past years, ranging from the 1981 split from Metal Box, when CME became the first South African company to be involved in a management buyout, to the 1999 decision to create the various divisions [and the decision] in 2003/4 when CME Automotive and CME Precision were converted to fully independent Pty Limited companies, with Cape Manufacturing Engineers being the holding company for both,” says Ashlin.
In particular, Ashlin explains that CME Precision, which was the original CME mother company, has had to overcome many challenges over the last two decades.
“It is well known that the manufacturing engineering industry has had to endure an economic roller coaster ride over the past decade or more,” says Ashlin.
“As a long-standing supplier to Denel and its predecessor, Armscor, the reduction in demand for the armaments industry meant resizing our operation.
Then, in 1999, the closure of Atlantic Diesel Engines was a big loss to CME Precision, as the company was one of its biggest customers.”
However, CME Precision MD Terence Dumont states that through a management team effort of successful downsizing and implementation of new systems, the company is now on a very sound footing with excellent short- to medium-term prospects.
In addition to the success experi-enced by CME Precision, Ashlin says that CME Foundry and CME Automotive have also succeeded in overcoming the economic challenges of the past decades.
CME Foundry has survived a challenging few years, having recently taken over the former Gearings Foundry, which was established over 100 years ago.
The foundry has emerged all the stronger for it and has landed some important new export contracts whereby more than 80% of the company's grey and ductile iron castings are exported.
In terms of CME Automotive, Ashlin explains that the company has secured the contract to supply castings for the South African division of Volkswagen.
Despite the fact that demand for catalysts has declined and volumes have shruck, Ashlin believes that the company is still viable and has potential for further growth.
Although this company has also been resized over the last few years, it has developed new markets with a resultant increase in the number of export orders.
本文转自：China Industry News
本文链接：http://news.made-cn.org/post/Successfully-economic-roller-coaster.html