THE Acoustex Group, winner of the 2021 Exporter of the Year Awards in the Eastern Cape, recently hosted exporters from all industries in the province to a plant tour at its Neave Township facility in Gqeberha.
The group, which is the umbrella group for Acoustex Trim and Insulation Divisions, BluTech High Performance, Waterproof, Breathable Fabrics and VPS Vehicle Protection Solutions, won both the Exporters Eastern Cape’s Best Exporter – Medium Enterprise award and the Overall Exporter of the Year award.
The Tier one, black-owned automotive component supplier manufactures sound deadening, acoustic insulation, carpets, parcel trays and injection-moulded and extruded products.
It supplies product directly to local Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and indirectly to international markets such as England, Spain, Japan, Germany, Australia, Italy, France, America and North and Central Africa.
The facility tour gave visitors insight into the success of the Acoustex Group amid trying economic conditions and showcased high quality products and processes.
Managing Director, George Yerolemou, said that despite a turbulent operating environment and disruptions caused by COVID-19, the leadership team took the opportunity to unlock new opportunities. “The pandemic provided us the ability to streamline our business and has helped us become more efficient and customer-centric,” he said.
Exporters Eastern Cape Chairman, Quintin Levey, said that Acoustex embodies the qualities of a winning organisation.
Exporter of the Year Awards is hosted annually to acknowledge the achievements of Eastern Cape exporters and service providers in the province.
Entries for this year’s awards opened on 23 February and closes on 6 June 2022.
Companies can enter in the following categories: SJM Flex Environmental Award; SJM Flex Environmental Practice Award; IDC Job Creation Award; Best Provider of Services to Exporters; Emerging Exporter Award; Best Exporter: Small Business; Best Exporter: Medium Enterprises; Best Exporter: Corporate Category; and Best Exporter: OEM. The Overall Exporter of the Year for 2022 will be chosen from these category winners.
Levey said that 2021 saw a record number of entries. “Exporters and the related industry value chain play a significant role in the Eastern Cape economy and these awards serve as a platform to acknowledge them for their contribution.”
