Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 10 October, 2017 – Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) is continuing its commitment to skills development and training in the automotive sector by donating a Ford Ranger to the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth.
The vehicle will be used by Nelson Mandela University’s Ford Engine Research Unit (FERU), which was established in 2012 in partnership with Ford to foster research in engine development and testing amongst its undergraduate students.
The unit boasts a sophisticated engine dynamometer and conducts independent quality and performance verification engine testing for Ford’s Struandale Engine Plant in Port Elizabeth, which produces the Ranger’s sophisticated Duratorq TDCi engine for the domestic market and global exports.
“We are extremely grateful to Ford for the donation of the Ranger to Nelson Mandela University,” said Gysbert Kleyn, Head of Department for Mechanical Engineering at Nelson Mandela University. “This extends our ongoing partnership with FMCSA through the Ford Engine Research Unit.”
“The Ranger is a great addition to the department as it will provide the platform for demonstration and training for the department’s Motor Vehicle Engineering subject that focuses on the workings of a modern automobile. This includes practical training as a test platform on the advanced Rototest rolling road dynamometer to evaluate power output and performance under urban cycling on a modern vehicle.”
The Ranger XLT Double Cab was produced at Ford’s Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria, and is powered by the advanced 2.2-litre four-cylinder Duratorq TDCi engine built at the Struandale Engine Plant in Port Elizabeth.
“We are delighted to provide Nelson Mandela University with a Ford Ranger, as it reinforces our partnership with the university, and builds on Ford’s commitment to developing engineering expertise in South Africa,” said Ockert Berry, Vice President Operations for Ford Middle East and Africa.
Ford has a long-standing relationship with Nelson Mandela University, having donated two Duratorq TDCi engines to FERU last year for training and research purposes. It also sponsors the Ford Premier Award for the top Master’s Degree student at the university’s annual Academic Excellence awards.
Is your organisation operational in sub-Saharan Africa?
Ford Motor Company operates in 23 markets in the sub-Saharan Africa Region.
To discuss your vehicle procurement needs on the continent, contact Ford Fleet Sub-Saharan Africa or visit https://www.ssa.ford.com/
