ACS is more than ready for the future. One of the biggest movers of metals from Zambia, the company has continued to make strategic decisions despite the global economic crunch. Earlier this year the company moved its head office from Kitwe to Ndola in an effort to be as strategically based as possible. According to Ruud Walgaard, regional manager of ACS in Zambia, having a regional footprint makes the company a strong and reliable force in freight forwarding. “We have offices in Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg, Durban as well as our Zambian offices – and that gives us good reach.” After finding a strategically located warehouse with rail siding in Ndola, it made sense to make it their head office, said Walgaard. “With this 2 500 m2 facility we are able to handle rail imports and exports comfortably. We can also offer transhipments from and to the DRC.” With contracts not only in metal exports but also imports of fertilisers, polyprop granules and other consumables for Zambia, ACS, like most other companies, has felt the impact of the global economic slowdown. “Not so much in reduced volumes, but more in reduced trucking capacity and rate fluctuations. We’ve seen trucking rates changing twice a day,” said Walgaard. “We have to be on the ball to keep up and retain our market share. As the pie has become smaller, price has become an important instrument to keep our clients.” The crunch, however, did not stop the company from continuing its philanthropic deeds, something for which it is known in Zambia. “ACS sponsors ARTECO orphanage in Kabwe, where Marian Labouschagne is in charge of bringing up and caring for over 100 orphans,” said Walgaard. “Every year we organise a soccer tournament with the orphans and have a day of fun with them. We continue to help them as much as we can.” Said ACS shareholder Kerry Spencer, who is based in Colchester, UK: “It is such a good feeling to give back to the people who really need it.”
