LABH SINGH HARNAM SINGH (LSHS)

L A B H S I N G H H A R N A M S I N G H LT D ( L S H S )

Striking a balance of affordability, durability, quality and comfort

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DRIVING SEAT Labh Singh Harnam Singh Ltd aims to be the first choice for buses and coaches in Africa thanks to a three-pronged dedication to safety, quality and innovation Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Vivek Valmiki

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elebrating almost 70 years in East and Central Africa, Labh Singh Harnam Singh Ltd (LSHS) has hit top gear in a competitive industry, as one of the foremost bus and coach manufacturers in the region.

Established in 1950 its longevity and sustained success speaks volumes in a bus body building industry that continuously calls for modernisation, regulatory adherences and innovation.

“LSHS has steadily grown to command the largest market share in the region while concurrently expanding its production capability from 20 units in 1997 to the current 80 units a month,” the business explains on its website as an indictment of its efforts over the years, and especially over the past two decades. “LSHS’s leadership position in the industry has been achieved through a long-term commitment to investment programmes in design

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and development, the acquisition and application of efficient and effective production technologies, and direct marketing efforts within the region.”

The Company’s range of clientele serves as further evidence of its modern-day prominence in the market.

Leading assembly plants such as General Motors EA Ltd (GMEA), Kenya Grange Vehicle Industries Ltd, Cooper Motors Company (CMC) and Simba Colt have all enjoyed the LSHS service over the years.

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“We also build buses for fleet owners, schools, colleges, universities, PSV owners and SACCOs in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe,” the Company adds on its website.

As a result, LSHS was finally awarded the prestigious ISO 9001:2008 award for bus, coach and commercial vehicle building in 2012; which has - in turn facilitated even more business in the years following.

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Tononoka Group

#Chuma

Your Home of Quality Steel

Hollow Sections

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Chequered Plates

0721 470 960 • 0721 470 852

It adds: “We also received an award of excellence for Best Institutional and Small Bus Builder of the year 2012 by the National Road Safety Agency during their 13th Annual Road Safety Agency Awards.”

Offering luxury

LSHS’s overall aim has always been to be the first choice for buses and coaches in Africa by striking a balance of affordability, durability, quality and comfort.

And to tick off such a multitude of parameters, the products on offer have naturally diversified and expanded over the years to meet all criteria and customer requirements.

The LSHS range can be divided into four segments comprising full luxury, semi luxury, phase two, and custom.

While the latter two account for aforementioned notions of flexibility and agility, it is the former from which its reputation and core offering has blossomed.

The quality of LSHS bus bodies remain one of the highest in the region as is evidenced in the number of LSHS buses that are still roadworthy after years on the road

Both its full luxury and semi luxury buses and coaches comprise mini, midi and large sub-segments; ensuring across the entire assortment that no stone has been left unturned.

For the mini aspect (20, 24 or 28 seaters for full luxury; or 26, 29, 33 or 37 for semi luxury) the range is ideal for small schools or business travellers and consist of weight reduction materials, wide and stylish doors, fancy design, dynamic lighting, and secure storage.

The midi segment across both luxury and semi luxury elements are perfect for intercity, intracity or long distance commuters and are once again offered in a range of seat number options.

Finally, the large sub-sector can provide as many as 45 or 49, or even 62 and 67 seaters depending on the luxury/semi luxury criteria and once again lend themselves to longer distance and more urbanised areas of intercity routes.

And critically, each product has been

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flexibly and carefully priced in order to ensure the most economically viable option for clients.

Safety, quality and innovation

The final, and most important, market differentiators that flow through all of LSHS’s products revolve around a three-pillared approach to safety, quality and innovation.

Regarding the former, the Company details: “At LSHS the safety of our buses is our number one concern.

In addition to building strong robust buses we also have safety features to protect the driver and passengers of the bus bodies we build.

“Our safety features include: antiroll bars to prevent the collapsing-in of the roof in case of accidental rollovers; robust frame construction with proper usage of hollow sections and angle lines at the direct impact places; individual seat lap belts; antiskid flooring; and grab handles and handrails.”

Meanwhile, its latter devotion to innovation is evidenced through the business’s continuous improvement landmarks throughout the years.

Using reinforced fibreglass on the front, rear and roofs of each bus in addition to an ABS interior has aided the overall weight of the buses as a standout highlight, which in turn has also reduced fuel consumption and tyre degradation as further innovative unveilings.

And when combining such safety and innovation, LSHS reaches its third, overarching, goal of quality.

The Company concludes: “The quality of LSHS bus bodies remain one of the highest in the region as is evidenced in the number of LSHS buses that are still roadworthy after years on the road.

Beginning with the procurement of quality material to proper treatment of materials we ensure that LSHS buses will provide our clients with a good return on their investment.”

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ononoka Hardware Ltd was started in 1985 as a small hardware based in Nairobi along Lusaka Road which was then shut down to give birth to a tube and pipe manufacturing facility along Old Airport North Road by the name of Tononoka Steels Ltd incorporated in 1991.

Today, Tononoka Group is currently the most sought after steel brand within the region and across East Africa, having worked with big brands including Labh Singh Harnam Singh whom we are proud to be associated with.

We provide steel and steel related services to the water industry, construction industry, hardwares and fabricators. Our market share is not quantifiable on a specific percentage, but the Tononoka brand is well known and trusted both locally and across the East and Central African Region. Our brand relates well with most steel consumers and stands for quality that you can trust.

Our core business in steel manufacturing touches on the manufacturing of; rectangular and square hollow sections, black round pipes, galvanised steel pipes, TMT bars, zed purlins, guardrails and much more. We also trade in beams, MS plates, MS chequered plates, angles, MS flat bars and seamless pipes.

CORPORATE VISION To be the largest steel manufacturer in the region.

CORPORATE MISSION • To manufacture construction steel products meeting world-class standards by investing in environmentally friendly technology and quality manpower.

• To import directly quality structural steel products from reputable manufacturers and support projects across Africa.

• To supply both manufactured and imported products through an established distribution network, at affordable prices to boost the growth of the construction industry in Kenya and East Africa at large.

Tononoka Group’s head office and operations are not based in Mombasa, but they are located along Old Airport North Road in Embakasi, Nairobi Kenya.

Some of the prestigious projects that Tononoka Group is proud to be associated with are: Standard Gauge Railway, Thika Super highway, Two Rivers Mall, Expansion of Outering Road, KCAA Building, KENYA National Assembly tower, KENHA Headquarters and Garden City Mall.

At Tononoka Group, we pride ourselves on our business values quality, reliability and efficiency at the core of every construction”

T 0721 470 960 • 0721 470 852 www.tononoka.com

Mombasa Road P. O. Box 45569 00100 GP0 Nairobi Kenya Tel: +254 20 35 38 17 4/5 lshs@lshs.co.ke

www.lshs.co.ke

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