Transporter offers turnkey solution for injection moulding industry

In line with its expansion and diversification strategy, Jacobs Transport has identified the plastic injection moulding industry as a key focus for the year ahead. “It’s a very big industry,” managing director Gys Jacobs told FTW. “We have in the past moved tanks, generators and transformers that are quite heavy but never anything like this. “We saw rigging as an area of significant potential and brought on new assets to realise our objective,” he said. Playing a key role in the new strategy is Luan Dreyer, new business development executive, who was appointed in November and brings to the table five years of experience in the injection moulding industry. He has been joined by Jonathan Smits who is responsible for the site supervision functions and has more than 10 years of hands-on experience. The company cut its teeth in container transport, but saw potential for growth through specialisation and diversification. And it’s paid off. “Our target market is the clearing and forwarding companies that import large machines. We help them to destuff the containers and position the machines into their warehouses and factories.” Companies want a turnkey solution, says Jacobs. “And that’s what we are able to offer. Once the cargo has arrived in Durban, we will collect it, transport it to site and either destuff the container or if it arrives as breakbulk we’ll offload it, lift it onto our equipment and place it inside the plant. We also assist the technicians to assemble the unit.” Jacobs pointed out that because of the weight of the machines, access was often very difficult. “You can’t always use a mobile crane because of the roof height restriction inside the plant as the boom has to be erected in order to function. We are saving the customer with our Hidrokon which can be manoeuvred inside the building and has a 24m reach. The Hidrokon has a knuckle boom and can therefore easily work inside a factory without having to open the roof.” In rigging two things were important, said Jacobs. “First is the equipment and second the trust you can build into a relationship. We are asking people to trust us with the most essential portion of their business. “In the injection moulding industry, the premises are pristine – and to handle a 40-50t machine on a surface that looks like a hospital floor can only be accomplished with the right equipment and expertise.” The Jacobs fleet is capable of handling in-house a lifting capacity up to 35 metric tons and a transport capacity up to 75 metric tons. Many rigging companies don’t have a lot of experience in transport, says Jacobs. “We know transport and believe we can be more competitive because we understand it.” The company currently operates within South Africa’s borders – but overborder expansion is a future objective.