Manufacturer records more than 25% growth in regional exports
A South African-based
tool manufacturer has
recorded phenomenal
growth in exports to
Africa due to a protracted boom
in demand for hand tools in the
mining, industrial, agricultural and
logistics sectors.
Gedore Tools SA export
manager, Nick Greene, said
the New Germany, KZN-based
company had recorded doubledigit
export growth in recent
years on the back of expanding
development on the continent.
Greene said the privately owned
German company, which
recently celebrated 50 years of
manufacturing in SA where it
employs more than 340 people,
had always been ahead of the curve
with its product developments and
export portfolio.
“This year exports to Africa are
up in excess of 25% on last year and
for the past ten to 12 years we have
been reflecting growth on average
in excess of 20%,” Greene said.
He added that growth had
been achieved by persistent effort
in developing new markets and
because its high technology tool
kits were known for their reliability
and quality – in demand from
small businesses through to multinational
logistics companies,
operating large fleets on the
continent.
“We export directly into
Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia
and Swaziland. In addition to
the BNLS countries we have
been active for many years in
Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi and
Zimbabwe, which are significant
markets for us, and we are now
focusing on East and West Africa,”
he said.
“Our markets are primarily
mining and large industrial
operations, breweries, agriculture,
the logistics sector and motor
vehicle workshops,” he said.
Gedore uses several logistics
providers, depending on the
mode of transport and customer
preference, Greene said, with
airfreight being the best – albeit
most expensive – option.
“We use road freight into
southern Africa, seafreight to
West and East Africa as well as
other continents, and airfreight on
request by the customer.”
“The network of road
transporters that we currently
use are reliable and efficient.
Seafreight into Africa is often slow
due to inefficient port operations
and some shipments will be
transhipped via Europe which
creates long delays,” he said.
Greene added that hard
infrastructure to outlying areas
and customs issues remained
challenges, although reliable
transporters generally managed to
resolve them.
“Getting product to major
centres is generally efficient – it is
getting it to outlying areas that can
be a problem with attached cost
implications.”
“The integrity of officials and
consistent and correct application
of laws, rules and protocols remain
a concern. Recent problems revolve
around the application of SADC
certificates by certain countries,
which has resulted in customers
being levied duties unnecessarily,”
Greene said.
He added that the company was
known as a leader in torque tool
technology and had put major
emphasis on the development of
torque measurement, particularly
in the logistics sector, to improve
the safety and performance of
vehicles on the road.
“We are continually driving
production efficiencies to improve
our competitive edge and we are
also constantly looking at new
products that the market requires
so we can meet those expectations.
We are always looking at providing
something that can add value to the
user in the marketplace,” he said.
CAPTION
Hard at work at Gedore’s manufacturing facility.
