L ogistics service provider Van den Bosch DMCC has concluded a partnership with freight forwarder STACKS Logistics in Cape Town. STACKS has over 15 years’ experience in African logistics and will be the local agent for Van den Bosch in South Africa from September 1 this year. “With this new partnership we aim to further develop our liquid bulk transport activities to and from South Africa,” said Bart van de Vorst, general manager of Van den Bosch DMCC. “The focus is specifically on the transport of liquid food products in ISO tank containers. The South African market offers huge opportunities in the transport of liquids in bulk as an alternative to the traditional drums and IBCs. With the start of this promising partnership, we want to further strengthen our position as a tank operator in the South African market.” According to Van de Vorst, the company has opted for an exclusive partnership with STACKS, which will be the first point of contact for the local market. The company will also be responsible for the further development of liquid bulk activities to and from South Africa. STACKS managing director Olivier Vanreusel told FTW this was an exciting opportunity. “Our goal is to become a key player within the food and beverage logistics industry in South Africa.” Van de Vorst said as part of their growth strategy in southern Africa the fleet had been increased by at least 400 tanks, built by Welfit Oddy, earlier this year. ISO tanks hold many advantages, especially in the African market, which often requires robust equipment, according to Vanreusel. Not only is the payload of these tanks almost 10% more than that of a flexi tank but they are also considered to be far more environmentally friendly, using no plastic or other packaging materials. In addition, they have a far longer lifespan than drums and flexi tanks. “ISO tanks offer flexibility and efficiency. They are very competitive with flexi tanks, drums, IBCs and also with bulk vessels,” said Van de Vorst. According to him, Van den Bosch has developed a strong position as a tank operator on the African continent. “It is a market where we see a lot of opportunities and a lot of growth,” Van de Vorst told FTW. In West Africa Van den Bosch had already established a strong footprint moving products like cocoa butter and coconut oil from the region to Europe in ISO tanks, he said. “The ability to heat or cool product in the ISO tank has been very beneficial. The butter or oil is loaded into the tank as a liquid where it becomes solid. It liquefies after heating at the final destination for unloading.” Not only were higher payloads achieved this way but the quality was also better through less heating and handling, he added. Several areas were being targeted in the South African market, said Van de Vorst, but predominantly in the food and beverage sectors. “It is an area of speciality where we offer a lot of expertise and knowledge. In Europe our tanks are often used at festivals where we can keep beer cold and it is tapped directly from the tank to the customer.” He said ISO tanks were a costeffective way to move food grade products in bulk – especially on the import side. “We are convinced that there is a large flow of product that can be shifted to ISO tanks in South Africa,” Van de Vorst said.
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We aim to further develop our liquid bulk transport activities to and from South Africa. – Bart van de Vorst
ISO tanks offer flexibility and efficiency. – Olivier Vanreusel