Duduza – Alstom Ubunye is ready to officially open their 40 000 modernised and transformed train manufacturing factory in Nigel.
The Alstom has 40 years’ experience in building trains before Alstom Ubunye came on board in 2016 and formed a joint venture with local partners, with Alstom representing 51 per cent ownership and 49 per cent is owned by local partners.
The company has partnered with Gibela and produces components for Gibela for 150 train sets, bogies, traction, cubicles, looming and carbon steels.
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During the media tour onsite on Tuesday, ahead of the hand-over scheduled for Thursday, Company CEO Xavier Boisgontier explained since its formation in 2016, the manufacturing facility has gone through extensive transformation and modernisation to reinforce its activities in rail manufacturing.
“We have transformed the site to world class systems in the train manufacturing industry.
“We have improved the skills development and training, welding robot machines and brand new tools, all enabling us to carry out all the functions under one roof.
“We want to become the provider of sustainable mobility solutions,” he explains.
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Boisgontier says the company has to date absorbed 565 employees of which 141 are women and 40 per cent of them are from Duduza.
“As the company grows, we will absorb more local people.
“We believe in the future of this community and country and have invested in the future of this country.
“We are offering bursaries for the children of our employees.
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“We have also launched a welding school in collaboration with the Department of Education at Esibonelwesihle Secondary School for sustainable development in 2018.
“We have developed the classroom and provided the welding equipment and provide skills training for the learners and will provide them with internship programmes,” he adds.
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