Leading filtration specialist MANN+HUMMEL has announced the opening of a new manufacturing plant in Kempton Park, near Johannesburg, further strengthening its global production network. In its initial phase, the 3,200-square-meter facility will serve as a key supply hub for the local commercial vehicle, passenger car, off-highway, and industrial aftermarket sectors.
This expansion marks the culmination of a project initiated in 2016, when MANN+HUMMEL identified South Africa—the continent’s largest automotive market—as the ideal location for establishing a presence in Africa. The company’s journey began with the launch of a Sales Office, followed by the establishment of an Aftermarket Distribution Center to support the Southern African region. The new plant represents a significant step in localizing production and enhancing supply chain efficiency across the region.
MANN+HUMMEL’s vision of manufacturing in Africa has become a reality with the opening of its new plant in Johannesburg, set to serve as a strategic hub for the sub-Saharan African market. This milestone lays the foundation for further expansion across the continent, reinforcing the company’s position as an industry leader in the region.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Kurk Wilks, President & CEO of MANN+HUMMEL, emphasized the significance of this investment: “This plant in South Africa is a key milestone in MANN+HUMMEL Africa’s business growth strategy. Our investment underscores our strong commitment to supporting customers in this market. Aligned with our ‘in the region, for the region’ approach, regional production enhances competitiveness and responsiveness, ultimately delivering greater value to our customers.”
Operations at the new facility will begin in March 2025, creating numerous job opportunities for the skilled local workforce from the outset. The workforce is expected to expand further as production scales up to full three-shift capacity.
The plant will manufacture high-performance filters for commercial vehicles, passenger cars, off-highway, and industrial vehicles. In line with MANN+HUMMEL’s sustainability commitment, the facility will extensively utilize solar power and implement 3R initiatives—reduce, reuse, and recycle—to minimize environmental impact.
“The opening of our new production plant in Johannesburg, South Africa, is a giant leap for our local African team. We aim to deliver innovative and reliable solutions tailored to local markets. Our flexible and responsive manufacturing process allows us to meet the specific needs of our Independent Aftermarket customers in the SADC region. We are confident that this new chapter will bring growth and prosperity to the local community” said Dr. Rostislav Khyr, COO / Group Vice President Global Operations Transportation.
Parent company, MANN+HUMMEL is widely regarded as one of the leaders in the filtration industry. The German based company has over eighty years of experience in the field. From a mobility perspective there are offerings for automotive manufacturing, railway, maritime, e-mobility, and airplanes. Further offerings include filtration solutions for water, agriculture, mining, medical, food and beverage as well as healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.
“Africa is the world’s fastest growing continent in terms of population averaging 20 years old. Its GDP growth is predicted to be among the fastest growing in the world among the next 20 years. Thus, we are confident that Africa’s economic importance will continue to grow, and as filtration experts, we will sustainably support this growth. This investment is a clear commitment to our ongoing efforts to expand our footprint in Africa. We are currently examining the possibilities for further commitments in other African countries. The markets in Africa have enormous potential and offer MANN+HUMMEL opportunities for growth.” added Cedric Dackam, President & General Manager for the Automotive Aftermarket.
Cavin Hearne, Managing Director of MANN+HUMMEL Southern Africa added, “We place a high-level of importance on our South African clients and our ability to serve them efficiently. This facility, and this team is committed to putting the customer first in all we do. From this facility we can provide quicker response times as well as better service to our clients in South and Southern Africa.”
