Informative trade leaflets roll off Safmarine press

... from road freight to reefer care Ray Smuts THE RAPIDITY with which Safmarine's corporate marketing people dish out leaflets is reminiscent of a slick blackjack dealer, but unlike cards it's good news only as Safmarine's print shop has been humming of late in an ongoing quest to keep the customers happily informed. Not in many a year has there been such hectic typographic activity with at least 16 new or updated trade leaflets or brochures coming off the press. Safmarine says : "Looking after customers is how we are differentiating our services from the competition, by providing tailor-made solutions to individual problems rather than offering a mass-produced product. Our informative trade leaflets, one for virtually every trade that we serve, provide our customers with valuable information." Hot off the press and of particular interest to the many Safmarine customers using road transport is a leaflet providing the facts on weight limitations on South African roads in terms of the National Road Traffic Act. Warning of the consequences of breaking the law - a fine of R120 000 or six years in prison - this publication is timeous in view of recent warnings by Government that it intends becoming tough on road users who flout the law. Also fresh from the printshop is an informative leaflet on ReeferCare, a Safmarine service dedicated to the supply chain management of produce and other commodities requiring through transport under specific and accurately maintained temperature, atmosphere, composition, relative humidity and/or fresh air ventilation conditions. On-line booking Shippers have at their fingertips the different Celsius temperatures, shelf life and maximum fresh air exchange (cbm/ hr) of a range of commodities from apples to yams. Features and benefits of various cooling options such as Controlled Atmosphere (CA), Cold Treatment (CT) and fresh air ventilation are also outlined. Other leaflets point to new services marketed independently under the Safmarine brand. Scheduled to debut in FTW at the end of September, is a new advertisement "World Port" pointing to Safmarine's diversity as a multi-trade carrier. www.safmarine.com deals with the growing importance of e-commerce in business. Safmarine believes connecting customers, suppliers and/or partners electronically is a top management issue and therefore vitally important that it builds a system allowing seamless on-line transactions. The latest version of the web site now offers on-line booking in addition to schedules, rates and tracking.