The Head of the Daimler Truck engine plant in Mannheim, southwest Germany, Andreas Moch, made the announcement in a recent statement issued to employees. He confirmed that after rounds of productive negotiations that Pieter du Plessis would once again take charge of the foundry as its CEO.
“We are really happy to have du Plessis back in the family. We look forward to our collaboration and working together to achieving a safe and prosperous future for Atlantis Foundries and Daimler Trucks.”
A simple answer lay at the end of the seemingly difficult question as to who would navigate Atlantis Foundries on its new voyage now that it was under the Daimler Truck fleet again, Moch continued: “Daimler and du Plessis stayed in contact for a long time and I’m convinced he will steer Atlantis Foundries within the family of Daimler Trucks in a way which is beneficial for both Atlantis Foundries and the Daimler Truck network as well.”
Pieter du Plessis
Earlier this year, this publication exclusively reported that Daimler Trucks AG was set to acquire Atlantis Foundries, five years after previously parting ways. Daimler AG, commonly known and referred to as Mercedes, is a German multinational automotive corporation, headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Würtemberg.
Castings SA last caught up with du Plessis at the GIFA 2019 that took place in Düsseldorf, Germany. Always at the forefront of what the latest technologies and innovations on offer could add to the foundry industry, du Plessis was no different in his opinion then. He expressed his eagerness at the continued role that artificial intelligence and the smart foundry would have on the foundry industry, and especially what it could do in respect of improving product quality and cost efficiency.
Du Plessis stated of his appointment: “In order to build a better future for Atlantis Foundries, our corporate values must be the guide in this process. Respect, Passion, Integrity and Discipline. They must be believed and lived every day; our actions must bear testament to our values.”
“We need to unite behind our common goals and objectives. Firstly, we need to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and its severe economic impacts. Neither Daimler nor Atlantis Foundries are immune to the economic realities of the pandemic. Secondly, we need to integrate back into the Daimler Truck family bearing in mind the lessons from the past. Lastly, we need to develop our medium-term and long-term strategy keeping in mind the Daimler Truck 2039 strategy,” said du Plessis.
Du Plessis takes the reigns from Christoph Ewers who will now take over the role of Commercial Director at Atlantis Foundries. Before du Plessis re-joined Atlantis, Ewers was the only executive member of the board and had been leading the foundry.
Atlantis Foundries produces automotive castings for the commercial vehicle industry
Daimler/Mercedes-Benz South Africa took control of Atlantis Foundries in 1999, and achieved record production of 60 000 tons cast in 2012. The overall melting capacity of the foundry now stands at 100 000 tons per annum.
Daimler Trucks AG
Daimler Trucks AG, a division in the Daimler Group, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of heavy and medium trucks for the commercial vehicle industry, with more than 35 primary locations around the world and around 100 000 employees. All Daimler Trucks & Buses activities are conducted at Daimler Truck AG.
Daimler Trucks AG has seven brands under one roof: Bharat Benz, Freightliner, Fuso, Mercedes-Benz, Setra, Thomas Built Buses and Western Star. In 2018 Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses delivered a total of more than one and a half million trucks and buses to customers.
