New facility offers larger warehousing space

Following last year’s
merging of Röhlig-Grindrod
and Kapele Freight and
Logistics, the organisation
expects to move into its new
Johannesburg office and
warehousing facility by June
this year.
“From driving our
strategy across all levels
of the organisation, to
systems implementation
and the impending move
into our new facility, 2017
promises to bring with it
positive change and growth,”
said Debby Gray, national
airfreight manager for
Röhlig-Grindrod Logistics.
The new facility will
offer 21 000 sqm of
warehousing f loor space
with capacity for 27 300
pallet positions, making
operations “simple and
efficient” through the use of
a warehouse management
system (WMS). “The
focus will be on f lexibility,
simplicity, efficiency and
best practice processes
and will offer our clients a
customised, fit-for-purpose
service that will allow them
to optimise and simplify
their supply chain,” said
Gray, adding that high level
security systems would also
bring peace of mind.
She pointed out that the
airfreight division of Röhlig-
Grindrod had, over the last
five years, continued to grow
and had become a large
contributor to the logistics
company’s bottom line.
“This can be attributed to
continuously assessing our
clients’ needs and adapting
our service accordingly, as
well as ongoing product
development and a close
partnership with our
overseas counterparts,” said
Gray.
She pointed out that the
company would focus on
Germany and China in 2017.
“Germany remains
our biggest trade lane but
also remains one of the
most competitive lanes,”
Gray commented, noting
that Röhlig-Grindrod
carefully considered which
carriers it did business
with. “Carriers who do not
align with our service level
requirements will not be
considered.”
She added that air cargo
movements from Hong
Kong had increased
substantially towards the
end of 2016 with forecasts
that this would continue in
2017. Gray added that the
company would expand its
airfreight services to North
China in the second quarter
of this year.
She said it would not only
focus on growing key trade
lanes but on growth from
the automotive and pharma
verticals.