‘Revolutionary’ Skiptainer pilot begins

In a move that could revolutionise the movement of bulk products by rail, logistics innovator ICM Group has begun trials on its new ‘Skiptainer’ solution that could change the way rail is managed in South Africa. The prevailing consensus among industry sources is that South Africa’s reliance on road – due to the inability of rail to provide an efficient service – is driving up costs. The Skiptainer, which is a combination of a skip and a container, is easy to fill and empty, easy to load and offload and can be transported on a flatbed rail wagon. “The core focus at the start will be the minerals business, but once we get it into the market it will take on a life of its own,” says ICM Group CEO Kiall Marsh. And customers have embraced it with enthusiasm. “It has significant impact on their business – it means they can get to clients who don’t have a rail siding and it allows us to provide clients who can’t get enough bulk rail capacity with the capacity they need. “It also has a double-edged effect – the environmental impact of taking trucks off the road and the commercial impact in terms of reducing supply chain costs.” A number of units have been manufactured, trialled and marketed to some major clients who have given the company letters of intent in terms of utilising it. ICM is however working with Transnet Freight Rail on the project and will only launch once all the processes are in place. The company has commissioned 500 units, of which 80 are already available. “Our initial maths estimates that cost saving will be in the region of 30% - which is substantial.” The Skiptainer is the latest in a string of innovations introduced by the company, most recent among them the G-Track system. Described as a fully autonomous remote monitoring system, it enables ICM to track movement of cargo during handling and transportation, tracking not only the precise location of the cargo, but every bump and vibration on all three axes.