The projects division of Ziegler
South Africa has harvested
strong numbers since the
company’s entry into the SA market
in May this year, and project
specialist Sean Moore expects more
of the same for the year ahead.
It’s a sector where expertise
and know-how are the defining
ingredients – and at Ziegler they’re
in abundant supply, says Moore.
“We have a committed projects
division in Antwerp and committed
project specialists in Mumbai and
Hong Kong and we have our own
local project specialist Cindy Luyt,
based at our Durban office.”
And specialist expertise is critical
in overcoming the challenges
faced – particularly on the African
continent.
The company is currently
involved in a concentrated solar
project in the Western Cape that
involves large volumes from a
vast number of origins – a lot of it
outsize cargo up to 35m long and
weighing up to 200 tons a piece.
The biggest challenge, says
Moore, is inadequate infrastructure
at the Port of Cape Town. It’s
the sensible port of discharge
but practically it can’t handle the
volumes because it has no lay-down
areas. And while Saldanha would
be better equipped infrastructurally,
vessels are reluctant to call at the
port.
“We are looking at Port Elizabeth
or Durban as options – and these
are the kind of issues that need to be
resolved on a daily basis.”
The upliftment of previously
disadvantaged communities is at the
heart of another project in which
Ziegler SA is currently involved.
“We will be ensuring that they are
provided with water and sewerage
through ductile iron pipelines
that are being manufactured to
internationally accepted standards
and then imported into South Africa
through all of the major ports,” said
Moore.
The company is also involved in
the movement of a massive boiler
from Mumbai to Beira. “We can’t
get it directly into Beira because a
lot of the lines consider the African
east coast high risk due to piracy –
and there’s also a steep additional
cost if you force inducement at one
of these ports. The solution has been
to bring it into Durban and roadhaul
it to Beira at a cost of R500 000 –
which is cheaper than inducing.”
It’s all part and parcel of doing
business in Africa – where Ziegler’s
border offices at Groblersbrug
and Beitbridge provide a strong
marketing advantage, says Moore.
CAPTION
Sean Moore … strong central buying
department in Europe.
