Sankt Augustin, Germany - Polyurethane equipment supplier Hennecke GmbH is setting up a local presence in South Africa, in cooperation with local group
Greenacres Holdings (Pty). The machinery maker sees this new partnership as consistent with its strategy "to expand its international network of subsidiaries and agents."
In addition to selling machinery and systems, the new representative will offer high-level technical after-sales service.
Discussing the background to the deal, Hennecke points out that "rising worldwide demand for polyurethane can to a large extent be traced back to the emerging markets," with the Southern Africa Development Region (SADC) being a good example.
SADC consists of 15 southern African states, which have recently attracted a large number of European companies to invest in the continent. The region has increasing political stability and considerable economic growth, with many products which previously had to be imported now being made locally. Hennecke also said that six of the ten major original equipment manufacturers in the automotive industry now have production facilities in the region.
Hennecke also said that political and economic groups in SADC are working to build solid foundations for a variety of ventures, and this is increasingly apparent as the 2010 soccer World Cup nears, which is bound to provide many positive spin-offs.
The agreement with Greenacres will allow Hennecke to make good use of the local market's potential, the company said. The South African company has "shown itself to be a reliable partner with great expertise in the machinery construction sector," and Greenacres' founder and ceo Des Green has long-standing experience, particularly in the area of polyurethane processing, said the German company.
PIC: Des Green (l) shaking hands with Ercihan Kurt of Hennecke.
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