ICS gears up to handle cargo on a grand scale

Intermodal Cargo Solutions (ICS) has speeded up turnaround and improved efficiencies at its new 20 000 sqm A-Grade warehouse facility in Prospecton, Durban as it targets business growth. A strategic move, huge capital expenditure into the larger warehousing capacity, software and hardware for improved warehouse management control, investment into state-ofthe- art cargo handling equipment, and a larger fleet of trucks for local and national distribution are all the latest developments that ICS will leverage to target new business and retain its current customer base. Speaking to FTW from the new warehouse facility opposite the old airport recently, group chairman Andre De Oliveira said the new facility had the added ability to manage and store the full spectrum of wares. “We experienced positive growth last year, with a significant increase in volumes, and one of the reasons for the move was to meet increased demand,” said De Oliveira. This new hi-tech facility allows for an increase in handling volumes to between 150 and 200 container units on a daily basis. De Oliveira said the company also saw the move as an opportunity to invest in new equipment and improve the workflow process, with renewed focus on “execution and excellence” providing measurable results across all spheres of warehousing and distribution. “We’ve invested in a sophisticated warehouse management system that offers core warehouse management tools as well as enhanced connectivity, providing fast and accurate data to our customers locally and abroad. “We have a large customer base that requires more than just warehousing of general cargo. We want to grow organically within these entities in order to provide an all-encompassing service from high-value products to FMCG and hazardous goods. Our new system provides the type of data analysis that allows us to correctly place, store, dispatch and report according to several specifications,” De Oliveira explained. ICS offers a full terminal to container freight station (cfs) service at its Durban and Cape Town branches, providing transport of freight into other parts of the country via its own fleet of trucks. “Port congestion is an ongoing challenge but having our own fleet is a major strength, as is having a container yard facility. This allows us to pre-plan and bring containers in and load cargo earlier,” said De Oliveira. A new Cape Town warehousing facility, which meets the same exacting standards as the Durban facility, is currently being planned for completion in 2014. CAPTION The new Prospecton facility ... speedier turnaround.