A British composite component manufacturer developing parts for the Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR supercar recently opened a South African branch in Somerset West, outside Cape Town.
A British composite component manufacturer developing parts for the highly desirable Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR supercar recently opened a South African branch in Somerset West, outside Cape Town.
Advanced Composite Group (ACG) UK invested close to R20 million when it opened its local branch in June. The local subsidiary employs about 130 people, while manufacturing components principally for McLaren Automotive.
Established in 1989, McLaren Automotive was responsible for using its Formula 1 expertise to develop the one-time fastest production car in the world. The legendary McLaren F1 topped 386 km/h and held its “world’s fastest” title for thirteen years before being trounced by the Koenigsegg CCR last year.
ACG currently has a contract to supply specified components for the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren for the lifetime of the supercar’s programme. Following the eventual termination of the SLR’s production, McLaren Automotive and ACG are expected to expand their relationship to support further business.
In addition to its business with McLaren Automotive, ACG also supplies materials to other high performance automotive and motorsport customers, including Koenigsegg, Porsche and the Team McLaren Mercedes F1 team.
Parent company Umeco’s interests extend to providing distribution and supply chain outsourcing services to customers in the aerospace and defence market, the supply of advanced composite materials and chemical products developed for the aerospace, motorsport, automotive and wind energy markets, and accessory repair and installation services to fixed and rotary wing aircraft operators through its three divisions.
Clive Snowdon, chief executive of UMECO plc, commented: “The acquisition of ACG South Africa cements our relationship with McLaren Automotive and further underlines our position as a leading supplier of advanced composites solutions to the new genre of supercars.
“ACG SA will sit alongside ACG’s existing composites engineering business to provide a low cost base to help demonstrate the use of composites and their applicability within the mainstream automotive industry. Vehicle technology is demanding lighter weight, more cost-efficient designs, and we are now well positioned to support this growth area,” Snowdon concluded.