The multinational banknote manufacturer, De La Rue, is currently investing Kshs 286 million in the expansion of its site in Kenya to strengthen and underpin its local operations. This move is part of a long-term investment of Kshs. 1.4bn to upgrade the site to become a regional hub for East Africa and the wider continent and a Global Centre of Excellence for De La Rue. This comes barely two weeks after the High Court suspended the decision of the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board (PPARB) instruction to the Central Bank of Kenya to evaluate the award of a currency contract.
De La Rue’s Marketing Director, Robin Mackenzie says the huge investment in the expansion of the site will standardise the firm’s global manufacturing footprint and increase its overall flexibility and capability. This has the potential to create more jobs and enhances Kenya’s high tech export capability.
The company contributes Kshs. 1.25 billion to the local economy each year through its 300 Kenyan employees and the extended indirect workforce of around 3000 in the broader supply chain.
Amongst other new capabilities, the upgrade includes the installation of a state of the art Komori Varnish Press and an increase in the overall factory size. Mackenzie says the Varnish Press will enhance DLR Kenya’s service offering and its technical capability to meet the increasing market demand for more durable varnished banknotes.
The state of the art new destruction system is being installed at a cost of Ksh51.2million (US$512,000) and will allow De La Rue to securely manage end of life note destruction and disposal in accordance with its world-class ISO 14298 and DIN66399 certifications.
It will also enable the firm to offer a complete one-stop shop service to existing and potential customers, from design to destruction, in a highly secure environment and manage end of life note destruction and disposal for any banknote securely.
“The end waste product from the system is used as part of the De La Rue Kenya corporate social responsibility to the local community,” he says.
The Ksh28.7million (US$287,000) state of the art air-lock loading bay will also ensure the firm continues to meet its commitment to ISO 14298 and its Intergraf accreditation requirements. Its design and construction is being undertaken by local Kenyan companies and is due to be completed next month.
