New system manages entire supply chain

In the fiercely competitive logistics environment, innovation is the name of the game. Röhlig-Grindrod has put its money where its mouth is and designed and developed a supply chain management system through its in-house IT specialists. “This new and unique product is available for all our clients, irrespective of industry,” Johannesburg branch manager Philippe De Pinchart told FTW. “The system allows our clients to effectively do pre-costings before shipment, build consolidations, track their cargo and manage their entire supply chain right down to each individual shipped part,” he said. Not only does it streamline the customer’s logistics process, it’s costeffective and efficient time-wise and allows for decision-making in real time, he added. It’s all part and parcel of the integrated supply chain solution offered by the company which recently upgraded its Johannesburg warehousing facility to offer 3 500sqm of capacity including a bonded store with racking, bays and pallet slots catering for varied storage requirements. Conveniently situated close to the airport and container depots, the facility is well secured with 24-hour guards and CCTV surveillance. As the logistics arm of the major Grindrod Group, Röhlig-Grindrod is one of several subsidiaries and business units within the Group positioned to provide integrated logistics solutions across all cargo types from place of origin to final destination. Demonstrating the company’s versatility, Grindrod subsidiary Vanguard – which specialises in the transport, lifting, placing and assembly of heavy plant across all industries – was recently responsible for the lifting of two 1200-ton trusses, the heaviest strand-jacking lift to date. It was the heaviest lift of its type ever done in the region, according to Ron Wiggill, Vanguard’s heavy lift engineer and senior project manager for the operation. Two prefabricated conveyor trusses in excess of 1 200 tonnes each were lifted from their assembly position at ground level to their working position at a height of approximately 50 metres above the ground. The conveyors form part of the new plant currently being constructed by First Quantum Minerals at its Sentinel Copper Mine site near Mwinilunga in north-west Zambia. INSERT & CAPTION Supply chain management system allows our clients to effectively do pre-costings before shipment, build consolidations and track their cargo. – Philippe de Pinchart CAPTION One of the 1200-ton trusses Vanguard strand-jacked into position, with a second truss about to be raised. These lifts at a copper mine in Zambia are the heaviest of their type ever done in the region.