Manufacturing
A Prototype is a great beginning, but it is only the beginning. To be a success, you have to be able to produce in the quantity that the market demands with the quality the owners deserve and expect. That is a far greater challenge than building a one off. I spent a good bit of time in the plant reviewing the manufacturing. To say that it was impressive would be an understatement. I am a manufacturing and distribution consultant by trade and have worked in many manufacturing and distribution facilities. I know what to look for and I liked what I saw.

Hi-Tech is one of the largest and arguably one of the most technically sophisticated specialty vehicle manufacturers in the world. The primary factory is located on the 100 acre Lockington Farm just outside of Port Elizabeth. Port Elizabeth has a number of automobile manufacturing plants and is known as the “Detroit of South Africa”.

The Lockington Farm facility has 240,000 square feet in 15 interconnected buildings. The 630 employees produce about 700 rolling chassis a year. It is a modern, clean, well organized, and well disciplined facility. The design and implementation of the manufacturing processes reflect a high level of commitment to quality and innovation.

The plant is a fully integrated manufacturing facility starting with design and continuing to the finished rolling chassis. Some standard parts, such as brakes, are sourced outside, but a large and growing number of components are produced right in the factory. In house production gives Hi-Tech better control over quality, supply, and costs.

In addition to the Superformance Mk III, S1, and Coupe, Hi Tech also manufactures the Noble M-12 under agreement with Noble and the SASCAR (South African NASCAR) racecars. And there are a number of new products on the drawing boards.

During our May production tours, we counted over a dozen Coupes in various stages of production. Two, one for Ron Rosen, and one for Bob Olthoff, were in final assembly.

By mid-October the factory had shipped 17 production Coupes to dealers. No smoke and mirror here. No marketing rhetoric about what is going to happen. This is for real.

Hi-Tech Lockington Farm
manufacturing facility

Prototype Three on the drive
in front of the factory

Plant manager Geoff Jones, Peter Brock, and Doug Reed review Mk III and Coupe body finishing in the flatting department.

First two Coupes to ship in the final assembly department. The Olthoffs’ red 0005 in the foreground and the Rosens’ blue and white 0004 in the next assembly bay.