New materials handling body stirs heated debate

THE FORMATION of a new governing body for the materials handling industry in South Africa has generated heated debate on e-mails between FTW and its numerous warehousing and storage equipment readers. In FTW’s Warehousing Special Feature in February this year, Fred Albrecht of APC Storage Solutions spoke about a new South African Materials Handling Institute. “I referred to a brand new institute which will be the governing body of Material Handling Equipment, especially focused on Storage Equipment and not Logistics.” Meantime, Johan Crafford of racking and shelving manufacturers Palian, wrote: “We are not aware of any new South African Material Handling Institute being formed, nor were we invited to any of its development phases, yet apparently it is backed by the DTI and supposed to govern the safety of equipment in our industry.” In response, Albrecht – who feels the new institute will bring the industry into line with international quality and safety standards – said: “We need the DTI and the Department of Labour to drive this further. It is understood that we will have buy-in from the importers of quality MHE, and resistance from the importers and manufacturers of low quality goods. After the governing laws have been put in place, we need no formal buy-in, but compliance.” However, Crafford added: “All local manufacturers have extensive guidelines and safety parameters, set by the existing Institute headed up by Martin Bailey, and international codes of conduct such as SEMA & FEM.” As a final note, Martin Bailey told FTW: “I was once the chairman of SA Institute of Materials handling, a professional body which has now merged with CILTSA. This institute should not be confused with Albrecht’s initiative.”