Ground-breaking Technical Assistance Agreement with Sumitomo Wiring Systems signifies a major achievement for Pasdec Automotive Technologies

Access to technology and material from one of the world’s leading automotive harness manufacturers will ensure optimum quality for local Nissan production
Brits, May 2008

Pasdec Automotive Technologies (PAT), South Africa’s leading supplier of wiring harnesses to the automotive manufacturing industry, has signed a strategically important technical assistance agreement with Japan’s Sumitomo Wiring Systems.

	Left: Mr Tadashi Matsumoto - General Manager, Automotive Electronics System Sales Department (Sumitomo) Middle: Kevin Pather – CEO (Pasdec Automotive Technologies) Right: Mr Isao Okada - Manager Renault-Nissan Group, Sales Department (Sumitomo)
	Left, Mr Norisumi Nagashima, Kyoei Industries, 2nd left, Mr Tomoya Maekawa, 3rd Kevin Pather, 4th Mr Goh Song Han, Director Pasdec Resources S.A Ltd, Right, Mr.Hiromichi Kurata
	Left, Mr Shun Ishiguro, Manager Electrical and Electronics Network System Development Group, Right, Mr Shoji Saito, Senior Executive Engineer, Customer Relation Management Group (Nissan)
	Left, Mr Rick Yasui Managing Director Kyoei Industries Japan, 2nd Left, Mr Tomoya Maekawa, Manager, Europe and Americas Section, Wiring Harness Manufacturing Group Middle, Kevin Pather Right, Mr Goh Song Han, Director Pasdec Resources S.A Ltd.

In terms of the agreement, PAT, who currently supplies Nissan with automotive cable harnesses, will have access to newly developed technology, components and raw materials.

According to Kevin Pather, Pasdec’s CEO, this landmark agreement with Sumitomo’s Nissan Division is unique and of vital competitive importance. “Sumitomo is a global giant with a dominant presence in a network spanning more than thirty countries. Understanding their reputation for setting the highest possible standards and their stringent selection criterion, we are delighted and honoured that they have accepted PAT as a Technical Partner.”

The Technical Assistance Agreement with Sumitomo will have an immediate and beneficial impact on PAT’s rollout of harnesses for a number of Nissan models including the Hardbody, Livinia, Acenta and Visia.

Sumitomo Wiring Systems was established 91 years ago and is renowned for its innovation, manufacturing excellence and the ability to build lasting relationships with clients and the community through its “Connect with the Best” strategy. With its head office in Tokyo, the organisation’s global network employs more than 120,000 people throughout Asia, America, South America, Europe and North Africa.

Pasdec Automotive Technologies, which has three dedicated, purpose-built manufacturing plants in Brits and East London, was founded in 1969. In 2002 the company became part of the Pasdec group, since which it has experienced consistent growth built on a continuous programme of investment in plant, technology, processes and skills development. Among its clients are Nissan, DaimlerChrysler and Toyota South Africa.