New GM spearheads growth in intermodal bulk logistics

In an effort to ensure the steady expansion of its intermodal bulk logistics sector, Central Logistics recently appointed a new general manager at its Cape Town head office. Hennie Lötter takes up the role and has been tasked with moving the company forward on its growth path. According to Lötter, the main focus of the business has historically been on the liquid market, catered for by ISO tank containers and flexi tanks. The company provides specialist intermodal bulk equipment to freight forwarders and shippers. “The ISO tank containers are mainly used for hazardous chemical imports and exports by multinational chemical producers,” he said. “We work with some of the largest global operators with combined ISO tank container fleets in excess of 20 000 TEUs.” The company is an agent for the UK-based Braid Logistics, which operates a fleet of over 2 000 dedicated food grade ISO tanks used exclusively for the wine and spirits business. “In South Africa we offer the dedicated Braid wine flexi tank to the Western Cape wine export market,” he said. “The flexi tank is specially designed for the carriage of wine with an integral aluminum foil barrier. The tank carries all the required global food grade approval and is extensively used by major importers and international supermarket chains for bulk wine shipments.” He said an industrial flexi tank suitable for the carriage of nonhazardous chemicals and oil-based products was also available. At the same time the company is expanding into the dry bulk logistics market through its agency representation of UK-listed company INTERBULK. “Dry bulk logistics serves not only the petrochemical market in tandem with the liquid bulk market, but applications can also be found in the food market,” said Lötter. “Chemical producers have been moving away from traditional transport thanks to the many benefits associated with intermodal transport," he said. INSERT & CAPTION We work with some of the largest global operators with combined ISO tank container fleets in excess of 20 000 TEUs. – Hennie Lötter