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Henkel South Africa is partnering with Hammanskraal-based Hudson Rubber to locally fabricate Henkel’s vehicle rubber sealing and acoustic solutions for OEM vehicle panel reinforcing, noise reduced and vibration protection.
Henkel’s patented technology of 2D and 3D sealing and acoustic solutions along with damping materials for the body shop provides robust noise, vibration, harshness protection – while ensuring protection against water and other environmental elements that can disrupt passenger comfort and reduce vehicle performance.
Paul Bergset, Head of Sales IND Solutions and Durable Goods at Henkel South Africa, commented on the partnership: “We are delighted to collaborate with Hudson Rubber to produce vehicle sealing and acoustic solutions for our customers in South Africa. We continue to ensure unrivalled quality and performance of our adhesive products that binds excellence with reliability.
“The innovative technology, supplied by Henkel China as a rubber-based material, is an expandable thermos-setting product that, when exposed to heat, will expand between 1000 to 3000 times its original dimensions.”
The material is put into vehicle components such as doors and pillar posts where it fills cavities to reduce noise within the vehicle that improves the driving experience.
Ford Motor Company SA will be the first Henkel-Hudson partnership customer where it will be used in the Ford P703 Ranger Model manufactured in Silverton, Gauteng. Bergset said there has been interest from a number of other local OEMs as the industry strives to deliver more local content to the models built in the country.
“This will be the first Hudson Rubber manufacturing and extrusion plant of its type in Africa, and could in the future supply the electric vehicle market due to the rubber-based products being able to deliver significant weight reduction opportunities to the manufacturing industry in South Africa.”
Mr Bergset said Hudson Rubber was selected following an extensive evaluation of suppliers and short-listed three companies. “Hudson, with 64 years’ experience in the rubber industry, came out as the preferred supplier based on their track record, service, capabilities and ability to provide customised solutions,” he said.
Stoney Steenkamp, Managing Director of Hudson Rubber, said the initial investment by the company will exceed R10-million and that Hudson’s workforce at the Hammanskraal factory will be increased by about 10-12%.
“There will be a knowledge transfer between Henkel and Hudson as well as extensive staff training.”
He said the integration of automotive light-weighting material combined with the increased use of sensitive battery components makes advanced automotive adhesive sealants and acoustics solutions more important than ever.
“The technology will also be suited to electric vehicles because the panel reinforcement products support light-weighting through enabling sheet metal thickness to be reduced without compromising local panel stiffness, dent resistance and ultimately driver safety,” he said.
Mr Bergset added, “Driven by the electrification of vehicles, light-weighting has become a megatrend in the automotive industry, and this has resulted in the industry look at structural solutions that focus on driver safety. Aside from offsetting the added weight of EV batteries, these light weighting solutions from Henkel also contribute to fuel-savings, less energy expenditure for equivalent performance and enhanced break and suspension performance.”
“The primary options with regards to structural solutions are structural reinforcement patches and structural reinforcement sprayable materials. Both options provide several sustainability benefits helping to reduce CO2 emissions.”
Both companies concluded the partnership at the NAACAM Show 2023, hosted by the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM) at the end of August, where both companies were participants.
NAACAM CEO, Renai Moothilal, congratulated Henkel and Hudson Rubber on solidifying the partnership and advised that, “This kind of deep localisation happening is one of the key outcomes expected under the SA Automotive Masterplan 2035, and is an example of how the components base is readying itself across different tiers, for new OEM assembly technologies including the potential of supplying EV platforms in future.”
Henkel
With its brands, innovations and technologies, Henkel holds leading market positions worldwide in the industrial and consumer businesses. The Adhesive Technologies business unit is global leader in the market for adhesives, sealants and functional coatings. With Consumer Brands, the company holds leading positions especially in hair care and laundry & home care in many markets and categories around the world. The company’s three strongest brands are Loctite, Persil and Schwarzkopf. In fiscal 2022, Henkel reported sales of more than 22 billion euros and adjusted operating profit of around 2.3 billion euros. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX. Sustainability has a long tradition at Henkel, and the company has a clear sustainability strategy with specific targets. Henkel was founded in 1876 and today employs a diverse team of more than 50,000 people worldwide – united by a strong corporate culture, shared values and a common purpose: “Pioneers at heart for the good of generations.”
Henkel South Africa
Henkel in the South Africa was established in 1951 and has since grown with almost 200 employees. In South Africa, Henkel operates one plant for Adhesive Technology products in Johannesburg and three offices in Bedfordview (Johannesburg), Alrode (Johannesburg), and Durban and Henkel in South Africa covers both global business units: Consumer Brands and Adhesive Technologies. In line with the company’s focus on innovation and customization, Henkel South Africa offers locally relevant leading products that cater to the country’s specific needs and position Henkel as a key player, particularly with top brands in ethnic hair care such as Ladine Professional and Schwarzkopf Smooth & Shine as well as customized Adhesive products for the automotive mining and cementing industry. In 2007, the Henkel South Africa team, build a center for children and created a space for early learning and development to give back to those in need. Through donations and volunteer work from Henkel employees and Henkel South Africa, 80 children from ages three to five every year now have a place to learn at Tamaho Early Learning Center, Katlehong, Johannesburg. A second building is currently being established that will allow an additional 120 children each year to access a learning environment.
Hudson Rubber
Established by the late Montgomery Rauff in 1959, Hudson Rubber is a manufacturer of premium quality rubber products for the industrial, mining, transport and other industries. In October 2016 the company was sold to RAECON Holdings. The Hudson Rubber capacity was further enhanced when in November 2016 a merge transaction was concluded with the Pro-Auto Rubber manufacturing operation (SDV International Trading Group).
Hudson now operates from Babelegi near Hammanskraal. The facilities include a mixing plant, rubber laboratory, tool room, continuous and discreet extrusion lines, injection and compression moulding presses and a sheeting plant.
The company supplies quality products to order, and develops new products for new and existing customers on an ongoing basis. Hudson not only services the local market but apart from our products as far as USA, we have an experienced and professional team, striving for perfection.
