https://www.miningweekly.com

New logistics company launched

New logistics  company launched

Greiner Mendi and Associates MD Lars Greiner and company director Napo Ramorapedi discuss their new business venture.

30th May 2014

By: Pimani Baloyi

Creamer Media Writer

  

Font size: - +

Project supply chain management company Greiner & Associates last month established a new company, Greiner Mendi & Associates (GMA), which offers consultancy services to companies that want to transport goods into and out of Africa.

GMA MD Lars Greiner tells Mining Weekly that the company aims to provide logistics management services that, until recently, no other company offered in Africa.

He explains that there is a gap for an interpreter between mining companies – or any companies that commission projects – and the companies contracted to deliver goods and services. This is the gap that GMA is going to fill.

“Internationally, there are several companies offering similar services, companies that manage supply chain activities and ensure that products are delivered on time, with no additional costs incurred. I can think of two companies offering these services in the UK and Europe, but we are the first in Africa,” says Greiner, adding that GMA’s business model is an established model producing positive results in other parts of the world.

Company director Napo Ramodibedi adds that, as there are ample mineral resources and mining operations in Africa, GMA expects most of its clientele to hail from the mining industry.

“Currently, support from mining companies could amount to about 20% of our overall business. We expect this to increase, but it seems as if our services are currently contracted by mining companies’ suppliers, rather than by the mining companies directly,” he says.

Ramorapedi believes it is in the interest of mining companies to have direct contact with GMA, as this gives the companies more control over their operations and, ultimately, their productivity. “We therefore expect the amount of work from the mining industry to increase, whether through the suppliers or the companies directly,” he explains.

Greiner highlights that GMA’s services will ensure the timeous delivery of goods and products so that clients’ schedules are not compromised by late delivery.

“Traditionally, in South Africa and the rest of Africa, companies believe that having a product delivered by the supplier passes the risk to the supplier when, in actual fact, they are giving the supplier control over the speed at which the product is delivered, the overall cost and, ultimately, over the period a project takes to be finalised, which is essentially multiplying the risk to the schedule.

“GMA, however, is reclaiming control on behalf of the company and mitigating that risk, thereby enabling the client to have better control over the schedule and productivity [of a project],” elaborates Greiner, emphasising that GMA will ensure that clients do not, at the end of a project, pay more than the initial cost.

Market Acceptance
Greiner tells Mining Weekly that GMA is overwhelmed by the amount of business that the company has received in its first month of business.

“What is most exciting for us is that there is a lot happening in South Africa and on the rest of the continent in terms of projects that involve the movement of goods – from new mining sites and infrastructure development projects to energy and other projects.

“The initial feedback has blown me away. Several people have told me that they are very excited to have a company serving this niche market,” he says.

Greiner adds, however, that logistics management in South Africa faced several challenges recently. “There are no longer any ships registered in South Africa and the country relies on ships from other countries, which is costly.

“Further, skills in this sector are fading, mostly because experi- enced and skilled captains are retiring and their skills have not been tapped into and transferred to the next generation,” says Greiner.

He adds that, owing to urbanisation and modernisation, projects are being carried out at more remote locations. Consequently, logistics management and materials handling are becoming more complex and, therefore, require skilled people, who are not in sufficient supply in South Africa.

Edited by Samantha Herbst
Creamer Media Deputy Editor

Comments

Latest News

Resources Watch
Resources Watch
27th March 2024

Showroom

WearCheck
WearCheck

Leading condition monitoring specialists, WearCheck, help boost machinery lifespan and reduce catastrophic component failure through the scientific...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Werner South Africa Pumps & Equipment (PTY) LTD
Werner South Africa Pumps & Equipment (PTY) LTD

For over 30 years, Werner South Africa Pumps & Equipment (PTY) LTD has been designing, manufacturing, supplying and maintaining specialist...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Hyphen, Eva mine, ferrochrome price make headlines
Hyphen, Eva mine, ferrochrome price make headlines
27th March 2024
Resources Watch
Resources Watch
27th March 2024

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.11 0.142s - 98pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now