Latest news with #Hunsinger
The Citizen
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
DA demands full AG report on R400m driving licence tender
In March, the R400m driving licence tender took a wrong turn. The DA has demanded the immediate release of the full report by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) into the failed driving licence card tender. This follows the repeated breakdown of South Africa's only licence card printing machine, which DA spokesperson on transport, Dr Chris Hunsinger, called a 'collapse that continues to paralyse renewals for millions of motorists'. Driver's licence machine The latest failure of a staggering 733 000 card backlog caused by yet another breakdown of the country's sole driver's licence printing machine has laid bare the systemic dysfunction at the heart of the Department of Transport. 'Despite years of promises to upgrade to smart card technology and to acquire a second machine, the department has failed to deliver,' Hunsinger said. ALSO READ: Here's how much it cost to repair SA driver's licence card printing machine over three years Wrong turn In March, the R400m driving licence tender took a wrong turn after Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy instructed her department to file a high court application for a declaratory order regarding the R400 million tender for driving license card machines. This follows the AGSA's identification of irregularities in Idemia's South African contract as the preferred bidder. The Citizen sought comment from Creecy's spokesperson, Collen Msibi. No response had been received by the time of publication. The story will be updated if a comment is received. AG report Creecy received the final report from the AG in February on the investigation into alleged serious irregularities about the procurement process for the provision of a new machine for the production of the planned new driving licence card. In September 2024, Creecy instructed the AG to expedite and widen the audit scope for the new driving licence card procurement process after new evidence emerged of alleged serious irregularities in the decision to make Idemia the preferred bidder. The contract awarded in 2022 to a French company for new smart card printing equipment was flagged by the Auditor-General as irregular, with costs ballooning from a budgeted R486 million to R898 million, an overrun of more than R400 million. ALSO READ: The driver's licence machine is fixed, but another problem remains 'Department hiding' Hunsinger claims the department has 'hidden behind court proceedings and refused to release the full AG report to Parliament or the public.' He said to 'break the deadlock', the DA will submit a formal Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) request for the full Auditor-General's report. Parliamentary questions Hunsinger added that the DA will also table parliamentary questions to establish whether the AG's findings have been referred to the Treasury, the Presidency, or any law enforcement authority. 'The DA will push for a parliamentary summons of Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA) officials, together with senior leadership from the Department of Transport, to account for this ongoing failure. 'The Department of Transport has shown little regard for its constitutional obligation to be transparent and accountable. We will not accept a government that hides behind broken machines and broken promises,' Hunsinger said. Creecy's action followed the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), providing her with new evidence of alleged serious irregularities in the decision to make Idemia the preferred bidder. ALSO READ: Driver's licence expired while printing machine is broken? Here's what you should do
Business Times
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Times
MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions expands Singapore production facility
[SINGAPORE] Electronics manufacturer, MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, announced on Friday (May 30) the completion of its expanded production facility in Tuas. The expansion aims to scale up the production of Agromax – its flagship silver sintering paste, which is used for bonding electrical components and creating electrical connections. In response to media queries, Tom Hunsinger, MacDermid Alpha's vice-president of semiconductor assembly, said that the company is a major player in the silver sintering paste production. He did not specify its market share for silver sintering paste. A spokesperson for the company told The Business Times that production capacity has now doubled. The company expects the expansion to add slightly fewer than 100 new jobs across operations, engineering, and research and development positions in Singapore over the next few years. Hunsinger said that MacDermid Alpha wishes to work with the Singapore government and local universities on training programmes and aims to tap the local universities' talent pool to hire new staff. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up For instance, MacDermid Alpha has partnered the Nanyang Technological University for R&D. Element Solutions, the parent company of MacDermid Alpha, operates three facilities in Singapore with a combined workforce of more than 250 employees. Hunsinger said that the production facility in Tuas is the company's only production facility in the world that produces silver sintering paste. It noted that the global surge of power electronics, particularly within the electric vehicle (EV) sector, has intensified the demand for silver sintering paste. Global sales of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles rose 29 per cent year on year in April. In Singapore, EVs accounted for around 40 per cent of new car registrations in the first quarter of 2025. Rick Fricke, MacDermid Alpha's executive vice-president, head of electronics, said that the expansion in the Republic is a strategic move that reflects the rising global demand for interconnect materials such as silver sintering paste. He added that the move also reflects McDermid Alpha's confidence in Singapore's strong manufacturing. 'This expansion positions us to accelerate the transition of next-generation materials from research and development to high-volume production, strengthening our global supply chain and market responsiveness.' Hunsinger said that he is optimistic that the company is in a relatively good position, when asked if US President Donald Trump's tariffs had any impact on the business. 'We are reasonably well-protected because we have a global footprint,' he added, noting that MacDermid Alpha produces and ships most of its products within Asia. He said that Asia represents 60 per cent of MacDermid Alpha's total business, with South-east Asia growing 'rapidly'. Marcus Dass, senior vice-president and head of global enterprises at the Singapore Economic Development Board, said: 'This investment strengthens Singapore's position in the global semiconductor value chain and supports the rising demand for high-performance materials in growth sectors like EVs.' Singapore has secured more than S$18 billion worth of semiconductor-related investments across manufacturing and R&D in the last two years. Micron Technology invested US$7 billion in Woodlands for an advanced packaging facility in Woodlands in January 2025.
Business Wire
08-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Lenders Cooperative Appoints Rachel Hunsinger as Head of SBA Servicing
ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lenders Cooperative, a leading provider of integrated small business and commercial lending platforms and services, is pleased to announce the appointment of Rachel Hunsinger as Head of SBA Servicing. In this role, Hunsinger will lead the company's SBA servicing operations, enhancing the post-close support provided to its network of financial institution clients nationwide. Hunsinger brings more than 22 years of experience in the banking and financial services sector, with 19 years dedicated to Government-Guaranteed Lending. She has held leadership roles at both regional and national bank and non-bank lenders, with deep expertise spanning SBA 7(a) servicing, construction lending, real estate, and liquidation processes. Her appointment reflects Lenders Cooperative's continued investment in strengthening post-close capabilities as part of its end-to-end SBA lending support. 'SBA servicing is a critical component of a healthy lending program, and Rachel's experience and leadership in this area position us to provide even greater value to our clients,' said Chris McClinton, President and Chief Revenue Officer at Lenders Cooperative. 'She brings the right combination of operational knowledge and strategic insight to advance our capabilities in a critical phase of the loan lifecycle.' As Head of SBA Servicing, Hunsinger will oversee all post-close servicing workflows and compliance routines, working closely with clients to ensure alignment with SBA guidelines and program expectations. About Lenders Cooperative Lenders Cooperative (LC) is a fintech solutions provider offering an integrated lending platform and professional services designed to support small business and commercial lending. The company partners with financial institutions nationwide, delivering technology and services across credit underwriting, SBA LSP support, loan operations, and servicing. Lenders Cooperative is committed to helping institutions modernize lending infrastructure and scale safely and efficiently. For more information, visit
