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ALGORAX CELEBRATES 50 YEARS IN PRODUCTION
PHOTO: Algorax staff celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary and at the same time get in on all the world cup soccer excitement.
Manufacturer turns a fighting-fit 50
“This year is a phenomenal year to celebrate our 50th anniversary,” says Algorax PR manager, Kerry Kirkman.
“For the company, it’s a celebration of Algorax’s heritage and for our country, 2010 is a significant year as we prepare to host the first ever soccer world cup in Africa. At the same time we’re uniting in our support for Bafana Bafana,” she adds.
To put everyone in the spirit, all staff at this Port Elizabeth manufacturer have been given Algorax soccer shirts, from local company Vanree Clothing. Algorax vuvuzelas have also added to the festivities.
Throughout Algorax’s 50 years, the company has recognised that human resources are its greatest asset. “Along with a high skills base, it is the loyalty, commitment and dedication of our staff that has ensured optimum customer service levels and improved production efficiency,” says Kirkman.
In recent years, economic pressures have resulted in the need to evaluate existing business models and to reduce costs. This withstanding, it is the company’s objective to ensure long-term sustainability and secure employment. According to Kirkman, the company operates in a dynamic environment and is continually looking for opportunities to create a challenging and rewarding work environment.
This year also signifies the completion of Algorax’s plant improvement projects, an investment of around R100-million. “The company would like to acknowledge and thank its staff for their valued contribution towards the completion of these environmental improvement projects, while still maintaining efficient operations and services”, says Algorax site manager, Alan Shone.
Production of carbon black commenced in Port Elizabeth late in 1960 with an annual capacity of three grades, totalling 8 000 tons. The company, then Phillips Carbon Black, changed its name to Algorax in 1986 when Phillips Petroleum sold all their interests in the Port Elizabeth carbon black plant to Degussa AG and the Industrial Development Corporation. Today the company is a joint venture between Evonik Degussa GmbH, Germany and the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa.
Current capacity is 65 000 tons, with 11 grades being manufactured to meet the requirements of the South African tyre, retread and rubber industries. The majority of Corax is sold into the tyre sector. The balance is sold into the retread and mechanical rubber goods sectors.
“We are extremely proud of the company’s valued contribution to these sectors by the reliable supply of an essential raw material, carbon black,” says Kirkman.
Corax carbon black manufactured at the Algorax plant is primarily used as a rubber reinforcing filler. Essentially, carbon black together with Evonik Degussa precipitated silicas and organo silanes used in the rubber compound, determine the property of that compound – whether it will have a high wear-and-tear resistance, superior flexing or stretching properties, or low heat build-up.
Algorax’s ESHQ management system complies with the requirements of ISO 14001: 2004, ISO 9001: 2008 and Responsible Care, the chemical industry’s environmental, health and safety initiative to drive continuous improvement in performance.
www.evonik.co.za
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