via Masimba launches new $1m hi-tech plastics plant 14 November 2014 by Tarisai Mandizha
MASIMBA Holdings Limited has launched a $1 million new High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Plant and Mine Pipe, one of the latest pipe extrusion technologies to have been brought to Zimbabwe.
The HDPE pipes are used for water supply, water, mine, slurry and gas reticulation.
Speaking at the official launch of the HDPE plant yesterday, Masimba Holdings Limited chairperson Greg Sebborn said the plant had a capacity to do over 200 tonnes of HDPE pipes per month and this would enhance capacity at Proplastic by 30%.
Proplastic is a subsidiary of Masimba.
“The new plant is capable of doing up to 400mm HDPE pipe. The new plant can also do all other diameter pipes such 355mm, 315mm, 250mm, 200mm, 160mm, 110mm, 90mm and 75mm all in millimeters,” Sebborn said.
He said the new plant comes complete with supporting equipment, being the crusher and the butt welding machine, and for the first time in this country, will offer HDPE pipes of up to 400mm in diameter.
He, however, said in addition, Proplastic had also installed a pressing machine to support and complete the new mine pipe.
“The acquisition of these assets valued at about $1 million was funded by internal resources as accessing credit lines is limited and very expensive,” Sebborn said.
He said the Proplastic HDPE and polyvynchloride (PVC) piping systems product have a design life of over 50 years.
“The new machine will enhance capacity at Proplastic by 30% and in turn, enable the company to satisfy local demand, thereby reducing imports and at the same time increasing exports within the region, thus enhancing the nations balance of payments.”
Speaking at the same event, Industry and Commerce minister Mike Bimha said the new plant was likely to bring in more than $3 million in annual revenue.
“This investment will benefit by import substitution of goods that the mining and local authorities sectors have, of late, been importing. These products will further generate about $3 million revenue per annum,” Bimha said.
He said before that investment, Masimba Holdings had been producing HDPE pipes of up to 160mm to complement its PVC pipes that range from 19mm to 400mm.
This new plant will cover HDPE pipe ranging from 110mm, 160mm, 200, 315mm, 355mm to 400mm which are key for water, air and mine slurry reticulation.
“This investment comes at an opportune time when the government has introduced a number of measures to nurture and develop our industries to enable them to withstand unfair completion from within, regionally and globally,” Bimha said.
“The raft of these measures inter alia includes slight adjustments to tariffs as well as removal of certain items from the Open General Import Licence.”
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