Serco’s mission is to continue producing superior quality refrigerated and dry freight truck bodies and trailers as well as striving to give customers a competitive edge in areas such as reducing fuel costs and CO2 emissions.

As a leader in its field, the company – with branches in Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town - has built up extensive experience servicing the transport industry for more than 30 years. The challenge of reducing operational costs while still being environmentally conscious remains high on Serco’s agenda. The company’s Eco package offers exciting possibilities in this area through a fuel saving combo which includes durable side-mounted skirtings and a roof diffuser boasting the potential to reduce fuel consumption for long haul operators.

Road tests recently conducted in co-operation with SPAR and Mixtelematics between Durban and Richards Bay proved the Eco package does indeed improve fuel consumption significantly. Serco has invested in cutting edge technology and equipment and is expanding facilities at its Durban premises while it is also moving into new headquarters in Johannesburg.  The new panel manufacturing equipment being installed at its Durban factory in Phoenix Industrial Park will incorporate the latest environmentally friendly blowing agents and insulation materials setting a new benchmark in the local refrigerated transport industry.

Serco managing director Clinton Holcroft said the company had outgrown its existing premises in Johannesburg and the new facility there would increase yard space to more than 50 000m2, allowing them to take on more work and improve repair turnaround times. “Construction at the new factory situated in Boksburg near Carnival City is complete and we move in during April.’ He said the extension and upgrade of its Durban manufacturing operation in Phoenix Industrial Park would increase the under roof area by more than 3000m2 and result in improvements to operating efficiencies “The extensions to our Durban factory will accommodate a new leading edge technology panel press and cater for an increase in manufacturing capacity,” said Holcroft.

Serco’s refrigerated vehicles are used to transport perishable goods - from fresh vegetables to frozen ice cream and from beef to bread – around South Africa, while its dry freight bodies move a wide variety of goods including general cargo, electrical appliances and courier parcels. The company also offers remote temperature monitoring solutions through its association with Ikhaya Automation. ‘We supply multi temperature vehicle bodies where different products can be transported in the same vehicle at different temperatures using movable partitions to separate the zones. We also instal Whiting roll over doors which have proven popular for local conditions.’

Serco and Ikhaya are also marketing and distributing a camera system for trucks and trailers which assists drivers in reversing thus also helping to prevent accidents. Holcroft said by using unique designs and materials Serco was able to offer increased payload and improved durability in high wear areas of the vehicles. Materials used included fibreglass composite skins; high tensile steel; aluminium; high quality birch plywood; and high density polyurethane foam. “We also offer a range of accessories to provide solutions from load securing to trailer aerodynamics as well as various floor and side wall protection options to accommodate pallet jacks and high wear applications.

“The reinforced composite structure of our side walls provides a lightweight, high strength panel construction for improved durability; ease of repair and a seamless surface for branding & hygiene.” Holcroft said Serco’s in house design department was able turn innovations into practical solutions for customers. ‘We have a strong network of customers and suppliers who we collaborate with to continuously improve our product offering and thus provide our clients with a lower cost of ownership. This is backed up by an efficient after sales repair service to keep vehicles on the road.”

An important focus for Serco is collaboration with customers to give them the competitive edge as well as to reduce costs and improve efficiencies. 
“I think transporters want their vehicles to last longer so we’ve focused on giving improvements in that area,” said Holcroft. “For us the big drive is putting in new equipment which brings with it new technology we are introducing.  The technology is on a par with the best available globally and assists in our drive to improve efficiencies and become more environmentally friendly.”