In The Spotlight

Sub-Saharan African logistics service provider, Röhlig-Grindrod Logistics recently took a major step in its on-going quest to distinguish itself from its competitors.  Located 2km from the N3 highway at No2 Price Road, Meadowview, the new R260-million distribution warehouse and office complex has easy access to OR Tambo International Airport and to main routes. The warehouse features 21 000m² of floor space with capacity for up to 36 000 pallet positions and an additional 5 000m² office space. Among the notable advantages of the new facility is the application of the JDA warehouse management system, says Gideon Botha, director for contract logistics and pharma at Röhlig-Grindrod Logistics.

The software enables customers to manage their inventory through stock level visibility, e-documentation and an online portal through which they are able to send instructions and requests.

The move to the new premises means Röhlig-Grindrod Logistics – which is a 57,50% black-owned, Level 2 broad-based black economic empowerment compliant company – is able to consolidate previous operations from five different facilities in the Johannesburg area. The company also operates offices in Cape Town, Durban, East London, Komatipoort, Pietermaritzburg, Port Elizabeth and Richards Bay in addition to Mozambique and Namibia.

Uplifting contract clinched with Le-Sel Research

Toyota Forklift 

Toyota Forklift, part of the Eqstra Industrial Equipment (EIE) Group, recently handed over 15 machines with ancillary equipment to Le-Sel Research. Based in Midrand, Le-Sel Research, one of southern Africa’s largest contract manufacturers of toiletries and cosmetics, is a first-time client for Toyota Forklift.

According to Gary Neubert, the EIE Group CEO, the Toyota Forklift combustion, battery, electrical, reach, and trucks are characterised by simple operation and high levels of efficiency and safety.

2017 Fleet Owner Green Fleet of the Year Award

Walmart South Africa

Retailer Walmart was recently awarded the 2017 Fleet Owner Green Fleet of the Year Award at the Advanced Clean Transport Expo in California, US. The achievement is part of Walmart’s far-reaching sustainability effort with a three-part pledge the company embarked on in 2005. The pledge committed to the re-engineering of its entire organisation to create zero waste, operating with 100% renewable energy.

All rolled into one: Broad service offering

Bidvest Panalpina Logistics

Bidvest Panalpina Logistics is the exclusive agent of the Panalpina Group. It provides end-to-end supply chain solutions that include air, ocean, warehousing, and transport as well as customs broking in all major industries.

Launched in conjunction with trade finance company Tradeflow, Bidvest Panalpina Logistics’ new Randflow offering is said to promise one invoice, one settlement price and one point of contact.

“It is about reducing the volatility of a fluctuating rand so importers know in advance what their total landed rand cost will be,” explains Maria du Preez, business development director for Bidvest Panalpina Logistics. “It is also about combining trade finance, logistics and customs clearance at a guaranteed competitive and transparent pricing structure.”

Acquisition lifts crane business

ArcellorMittal South Africa

A three-year service and maintenance contract at the ArcellorMittal South Africa Saldanha Works steel mill is one of the first joint ventures of the Demag Konecranes team.

Knut Stewan, managing director of southern Africa and vice president for Africa for Konecranes, says the deal – which includes Demag cranes, hoists and other materials handling equipment – will help to make Konecranes a substantial force in the lifting business in sub-Saharan Africa.

In SA the merger also extends to the Wolff Cranes brand, which was acquired by Demag in the late 1980s. In terms of the port material segment, it includes handling technology with a broad range of manual, semi-automated solutions under the Gottwald and Noell brands.

“We are extremely proud to combine forces with Demag,” says Stewan. “The acquisition makes it possible for us to realise a long list of synergies between our two companies.”

Logistics and supply chain management meet digitalisation

Hamburg International Conference of Logistics (HICL) 2017

The International Conference of Logistics (HICL) 2017 takes place in Hamburg, Germany from 11 to 13 October. It is based on the fact that recent advances in artificial intelligence and automation, as well as ever-increasing capacities of smart devices, have created a new business ecosystem. Additionally, customers are demanding more innovative, more diverse and greener products. This, say the organisers, creates numerous challenges for all players in the supply chain. Yet it also presents an opportunity to create solutions and practices that improve performance and productivity. HICL 2017 will focus on research concepts and ideas that enable these tools and ideas to be employed in logistics and supply chain management.