A HEAVYWEIGHT contingent of overseas and local representatives gathered in Johannesburg last week to celebrate the milestone 30th anniversary of Birkart Globistics SA. Outgoing CEO Michael Villinger and his recently appointed successor Helmut Kaspars, joined staff and customers to mark the occasion. Villinger, who sees huge opportunities for the South African company in Africa, will remain a member of the local board. With a projected growth of 10-15% for the global freight industry, Birkart Globistics SA MD Patrick Federle is upbeat about opportunities on the local front. The company is focusing strongly on developments in Africa, he told FTW, and last week’s celebrations coincided with the signing of an agency agreement with Ugandan company JM Freight Services. The Birkart organisation was established in Germany in 1877 as a family-owned transport company. It has developed over the years into an international freight forwarding major with 126 offices in 35 countries. The local network includes offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth. Its growing international reach has seen the opening of new offices in Dubai, Italy and Poland with further expansion planned in India, Mexico and Chile.
