Tile manufacturing company Zimtile has installed a new plant at its Bulawayo factory that will see production of tiles rising to 26 000 a day.
The new plant, a P45HD roof tile extruder, replaced a 30-year-old plant and is expected to boost the firm’s capacity in the outlook period.
Current production levels range between 12 000 to 15 000 a day. Company operations manager Gordon Kent told journalist during a media tour of its Bulawayo factory on Wednesday the new production targets would be met before year-end.
“The increase in production will be in phases. It will also be dependent on the availability of pallets used for the making of the tiles,” said Kent.
Kent said the company recently secured an order to supply the Botswana market. Zimtile has in the past exported to Zambia, Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique.
“To ensure that the Zimtile tile remains the best on offer, the plant is operated by a highly trained, skilled and experienced team, while vigorous quality inspections begin from the sourcing of raw materials, their transportation, storage and processing,” a company statement said.
“The move by Zimtile will create job opportunities when capacity increases as this will require more manpower to work in shifts.” According to Zimtile the new plant has automatic aggregate feeding systems with electronic weighing of materials.
Plans are also under way to commission a new cement silo which will increase holding capacity to 100%.
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The P45HD can produce different types of tiles. Zimtile, which is a subsidiary of PG Industries, contributed $5 million or 22% of turnover in 2010 financial year.
PG Industries group recorded an after-tax loss of $7,5 million in 2010 as a result of closure of several company units and working capital constraints.
