Orchestrating the safe delivery of awkward cargo to awkward destinations demands skill and expertise. FTW speaks to some of the industry leaders who are carving out lucrative niches in this specialist field. Awkward destinations, awkward cargo keep Bertling ticking SPECIALITY WITHIN a speciality. That’s FH Bertling in SA - German-owned, but SA operated - and both project cargo and “into Africa” clearing and forwarding specialists. The company handles project imports into Africa “from anywhere worldwide”, according to m.d. Marc Schweiger. “We can offer time- sensitive movement for exceptionally heavy or large items,” he told FTW, “and ship into all sorts of awkward corners of the continent.” One main side of the business is mining in West Africa, where Bertling is well established in the industry. Said marketing director, Mike Benney: “We are well practised at the art of new mine mobilisation procedures. “This is where the likes of dump trucks, drill rigs, excavators, water carts, graders, and all repair parts have to be shipped in to the nearest port, and transported by road to the site. “Also, each mine has a full-scale workshop which needs to be constantly fed with parts and materials ordered from all around the world.” Another of the company’s specialisations, according to Schweiger, is in the construction industry. A main niche for Bertling has been the movement of equipment for the electricity industry - like power stations, transformer plants and power lines. “Mauritius, Ethiopia and Angola have been three recent destinations,” said Schweiger. “These include transformers up to 400-tons apiece - which need heavy lift vessels and hydraulic trailers to carry them.” These types of moves, Schweiger added, need full route mapping skills, and the ability to get authorisations from the relevant authorities. There are international business benefits from the Bertling group’s 45 office network spread across every continent. And the Africa operation - headquarters in Johannesburg and a support office in Durban - also has branches in Dar es Salaam (“Mainly for Tanzania’s mining and sugar industries,” said Schweiger), Maputo and a permanent delegate in Dakar. It also has partnerships throughout the continent. The company is also currently busy adding procurement to its product, Schweiger told FTW. It will be moving to new office and warehouse premises in Jet Park in August - more than doubling its capacity.
