KEVIN MAYHEW
WHEN IT comes to exporters, forwarder Safcor Panalpina knows how to pick the best, with three of its clients in the final list of contenders for this year’s Gauteng Exporter of the Year Award.
Johannesburg-based Namitech, Lanxess and Geratech Zirconium Beneficiation entrust the company with much of their exports.
Namitech
Handling its needs into West African countries requires a lot of planning to enable Namitech to succeed against competitors in Europe who have many more scheduled flights available to reach these destinations on time, according to Namitech, executive sales, Patricia Simeons.
Namitech specialises in secure card solutions such as SIM cards, recharge vouchers and electronic vouchers for the cellphone industry. Other applications include ATM, debit, credit, and EMV smart cards. With the explosion of cellphone technology in Africa and the increasing presence of particularly South African banks throughout the continent, the call for its products has increased dramatically, she says.
“We are truly a pan-African company distributing to areas that require much planning to get the product to them cost-effectively and on time to reduce the amount of stock that our clients have to carry before distribution. Obviously there is a high security element to be considered as well,” she explained.
Lanxess
From various production points around the country, Isando-based Lanxess exports a number of different products to markets globally and Safcor Panalpina has been instrumental in the company moving over 500000 tons of these products each year.
Lanxess mines chrome ore in Rustenburg, produces rubber chemical at Isithebe, chrome tanning salts at Merebank and at Chrome International South Africa in New Castle, a joint venture with Dow Chemicals. It produces chromic acid sodium dichromate.
“Our exports have increased dramatically over the last five years and the support of our forwarders - with Safcor Panalpina a major one - has been critical to meeting clients’ expectations overseas,” says marketing manager, Mike Techow.
Geratech
Completing the successful Safcor Panalpina trio is Geratech Zirconium Beneficiation which exports a range of value added zirconium chemicals used in a diverse application field in over sixty industries, such as anti-perspirant, paint, leather, paper, engineering ceramics, gemstones and even automobile catalytic converters.
According to managing director Ignatius de Wet, most of the product they export - either as liquid or powder - is high value which makes it essential that a forwarder meets certain criteria. These include no damage to packaging or product, delivery in time to meet the client’s production needs and all at a reasonable price.
“A significant responsibility rests on the shoulders of our forwarders to make certain that these requirements are met to keep us competitive. In the case of lower value product, price is a critical element - and finding the most cost-effective route to deliver because transportation costs can amount to 15% of the sale price to our client, so savings are essential,” he explained.
“It is critical to function as partners in establishing the most appropriate and efficient supply chain solutions for exports,” says Safcor Panalpina sales and marketing director Bruce Thoresson.
“The understanding of our clients’ needs, as well as the needs of their clients, enables us to offer the best solutions.
“Reduced supply chain costs will assist South African exporters to compete in world markets.”
