AST assists Nampak Glass to get up and running

Nampak Glass has contracted AST Automation, a business unit of the AST Group, to assist it to rebuild the electrical component of its glass furnace. AST will be involved in the full project and procurement management of the R54 million project, which was initiated in April 2003 and will be completed by October 2003.

Nampak Glass, division of the Nampak Group, manufactures and markets quality glass bottles for beer, carbonated soft drinks, alcoholic fruit beverages, wines, spirits and foods.

After the furnace burnt down in April 2003, Nampak Glass lost 45% of its operating capacity, which is resulting in lost revenue. In addition, the South African glass-manufacturing marketplace has no spare capacity, so it directly affects the cost to sustaining the market. Therefore Nampak needed to find a partner quickly to assist in the rebuilding.

"Through our past experience with AST, and the fact that they had the necessary skills and expertise we required, we approached AST to assist us in the rebuilding," explains Rob Allman, Technical Director for Nampak Glass. "AST`s quick response time and their high-level of service has allowed them to manage Nampak`s interest at all times during the course of the project."

"AST has the necessary methodologies for this project to ensure that the schedule, cost and quality objectives are being met," says Ricky Huyser, GM of AST Automation. "This has resulted in practical, cost-effective and timely solutions for the project."

The project entails the basic and detailed tender specifications for the HT, LT, MV and C&I portions of the project. AST is also involved in the managing of the interfaces between the civil and mechanical engineers.