On October 1st, 2003, the commissioning of the new extensions to the South Cape Ostrich Tanning (SCOT) tannery began, which will, when completed, increase the annual capacity from 50 000 to 75 000 ostrich skins. SCOT was established in 1999, and started production in January 2000 with an initial annual capacity of 25 000 ostrich skins. The additional capacity will also offer the company increased flexibility for the immediate future.

The extension to the tannery was necessitated by an inflow of skins that exceeds the existing capacity by 20%. During the past 12 months this overflow was contract tanned by several other ostrich tanneries. With the increased cost competitiveness in the ostrich industry this was not a long term solution and the new facility will alleviate this problem.
The new extensions comprise the installation of 4 new Vallero drums in the tanning and dyeing section. A new finishing plant of 700 sqm was built adjacent to the existing tannery. This facility will be equipped with its own laboratory and state of the art testing equipment, now a must for ostrich tanners.
The capacity of SCOT is now more in line with the production capacity of Mosstrich abattoir (its main source of raw material) which processes 90 000 ostrich carcasses per annum. SCOT management is anxious to see that current cost efficiencies are maintained as well as launching a concerted effort to improve the quality of raw material which is produced by its 180 ostrich farmers in the Southern Cape.