18 Nov 2008 07:00
18th November 2008
LONRHO PLC
("Lonrho" or the "Company")
e-Kwikbuild Opens New Factory to Meet Demand
Lonrho (AIM: LONR) the conglomerate with a structured portfolio of African investments is pleased to announce that e-Kwikbuild, its 62% subsidiary, has completed and commenced production from a new prefabricated panel production plant in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
The development of the new production plant has not only increased e-Kwikbuild's capacity but has also permitted the redesign and enhancement of certain elements of the e-Kwikbuild product to ensure that it remains a market leader in the supply of high quality prefabricated buildings. The new plant incorporates state of the art applications to the manufacturing process.
The new 2,700m2 factory can produce up to 240 (3 square metres) panels in each six hour shift and will facilitate e-Kwikbuild's ability to meet existing, and forecast demand for its products.
The first deliveries for buildings from the new plant are being manufactured for a new teaching facility at Walter Sisulu University, a Nurses Accommodation unit at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, and a seven classroom school at Sterkspruit, all in the Eastern Cape.
Kwikbuild designs and builds insulated prefabricated buildings including houses, offices, schools, clinics and dormitories. The Kwikbuild products give a pre-engineered building solution providing a cost effective, environmentally friendly building, which requires low maintenance and can be installed in days.
David Lenigas, Lonrho's Executive Chairman commented:
"Since Lonrho invested in e-Kwikbuild in October 2007, the management's focus has been to increase production capacity to meet demand. The commissioning of the new factory is a milestone for the company and a building block for growth.
The opportunities for e-Kwikbuild products from existing clients such as Eskom, the South African Government and others in South Africa are considerable, but we believe significant future growth can be generated through Lonrho's pan African presence. We are expecting new orders from Angola, Mozambique and the DRC now that the factory is open."
Enquiries
| Lonrho Plc | +44 (0)20 7016 5105 |
| David Lenigas, Executive Chairman | +44 (0)7881 825 378 |
| Geoffrey White, Chief Executive Officer | +44 (0)7717 307 308 |
| Emma de Borchgrave, Executive Director | +44 (0)7867 785 177 |
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| Pelham PR |
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| Charles Vivian | +44 (0) 20 7743 6672 |
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| +44 (0) 7977 297903 |
| James MacFarlane | +44 (0) 20 7743 6375 |
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| +44 (0) 7841 672831 |
NOTES TO EDITORS
About LONRHO:
Lonrho Plc is an expanding conglomerate that is rapidly growing a successful business throughout Africa. The Company's shares are traded on the London AIM stock exchange (LONR). Lonrho is strategically focused on the development of business opportunities in infrastructure, transportation, support services, hotels and natural resources. The Company has over 19,000 shareholders and substantial institutional backing to support its mandate to build a profitable business that plays a fundamental role in the development of the African economy.
Since 2006, the Company has invested in or acquired control of:
Hotel Cardoso - www.hotelcardoso.co.mz
Lonrho Mining - www.lonrhomining.com
Luba Freeport - www.lubafreeport.com
Fly540 - www.fly540.com
Swissta Holdings - www.swissta.com
Bytes and Pieces www.bytespieces.com
Kwikbuild - www.e-kwikbuild.co.za
Rollex - www.rollex.co.za
LonZim - www.lonzim.co.uk