Pindulo VDM

PINDULO VDM

Integrating supply chain operations across the whole of South Africa

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Over the past few decades, the dynamic nature of the industry has been constantly changing. The exponential growth has been catalysed by globalisation, deregulated and open economic trade policies, evolving customer needs and disruptions due to technological advancements.

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Multimodal Magnate

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Under an adventurous leadership team, Pindulo VDM is building on a rich heritage by providing an integrated supply chain solution for clients across the length and breadth of South Africa

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“We are the world’s largest producer of iron ore, chrome, manganese, platinum, vanadium and vermiculite.

In addition, the country remains a significant producer of ilmenite, palladium, rutile and zirconium and coal. We are therefore a cornucopia of mineral riches, and this facilitates us to be the largest economy and subsequently the gateway into Africa.

“Our company is privileged to be in a land of exponential opportunity.”

Kevin Changoo is talking about South Africa.

As Co-CEO of Pindulo VDM, he is specifically referring to the opportunities arising in the nation’s supply chain industry.

Writer: Tom Wadlow Project Manager: Josh Mann

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Describing the sector as the backbone for business, Changoo also points to the impact of the fourth industrial revolution and the doors this has opened for multimodal logistics providers.

“The importance of the continued evolution of our transport network is critical for the country and is directly proportional to our economic growth,” he adds.

“As per the South African National Development Plan, one of the key strategic thrusts of the Mining Charter and the National Economic Growth and Logistics Strategy is to upgrade,

maintain and align the logistic infrastructure network.

“This will allow it to service the increasing market demand and enable the country to remain competitive in the dynamic global market.”

Supporting a vision

Pindulo VDM is perfectly poised to contribute to this development.

Originally called VDM when it set up in 1976, the addition of Pindulo is aligned to its value proposition which is to be a versatile, dynamic and multimodal service provider, delivering

AN INTRODUCTION TO PINDULO VDM Starting life in 1976, Pindulo VDM derives from the South African word for ‘problem solvers’, the latter three letters honouring the company’s original name and symbolic of its motto ‘Versatile, Dynamic and Multimodal’.

In 2018 the company rebranded to reflect the transformation of its business, which now operates in six clear divisions that each reflect a colour of the South African flag: Red

Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG)

Gold/Yellow Steel and Industry (SI) Blue

Fuel and Chemicals (FC)

Black

Mineral Mining Commodities (MMC)

Green

Agricultural Commodities (AC)

NINE DOT SOLUTIONS

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ine Dot Solutions provides engineering solutions for customers predominantly in the mining and bulk material handling, and packaged solutions field. Our customer base includes Pindulo VDM. We design custom, efficient solutions based on our customers’ needs, by making use of state-of-the-art technologies and in-house engineering expertise, as well as our vast experience from past design, audit and manufacturing projects.

Solutions provided to customers will address their specific problems and unique constraints without compromising on safety, dependability and quality.

Local 086 100 9DOT (368) International +27 (0) 12 991 8125 E info@ninedot.co.za

PS PORT STEVEDORING

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ort Stevedoring (PS) commenced trading in Durban in 1994 and experienced significant growth in a short period, expanding operations in Cape Town and later to Saldanha, Port Elizabeth and Ngqura.

Pindulo VDM’s work is based around operational hubs located in Saldanha, Culemborg, Paarden Island, Cape Town Harbour, Worcester, Port Elizabeth, Kimberley, Johannesburg and Witbank.

PS has longstanding relationships in the shipping industry and within this context, has been handling bulk minerals in partnership with VDM in Cape Town and Saldanha for many years now, being proud of the reputation and relationships that it has established.

In addition, with more than 400 vehicle combinations at its disposal, the company can provide truly innovative and intelligent logistical solutions, including dry bulk, breakbulk, container and abnormal transport.

Key partnerships with stakeholders has cemented the company’s reputation as a preferred bulk cargo handling specialist.

White/Grey Technical Consulting Services (TCS)

It also utilises a private haul road from port to intermediate facilities nearby, the fleet consisting of drop sides, side tippers, flatbeds, tautliners and back tippers, with all trailers fitted with air suspension. The firm also owns more than 2,000 containers.

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T +27 21 401 8847 E info@portstevedoring.co.za

www.portstevedoring.co.za

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Professional mechanical engineering consultants. Services include mechanical/structural design, structural audits and bulk material flow analysis. See ninedot.co.za

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Local: 086 100 9DOT (368) International: +27 (0) 12 991 8125 | info@ninedot.co.za

Cape Town | Durban | Port Elizabeth | Ngqura | Saldanha T: +27 21 401 8847 | E: info@portstevedoring.co.za | www.portstevedoring.co.za

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integrated supply chain solutions one delivery at a time.

Such an offering includes warehousing, material handling, containerisation, rail, road, and customs forwarding and clearing services, a portfolio which aligns with the National Development Plan of South Africa.

And it is for this reason that Pindulo VDM has made significant investments in eight back of port facilities and numerous warehouses.

Specific projects within this include the installation and upgrading of more than 11 kilometres of rail sidings, acquisition of four locomotives, investment in the research, design and development of patented multipurpose containers, development of a modular container loading system, and investment in specially designed trailers to optimise road transport legs.

“These investments are part of the foundational work which we can now leverage in order to provide tailormade, customisable solutions for our stakeholders,” explains Changoo.

“Our customer-centric strategy enables us to add value to our customer supply chain processes and

South Africa is a land of exponential potential and a country which is the gateway to the rest of Africa. I am extremely optimistic regarding the opportunities and rapid growth potential for this industry” to understand the evolving market, technology requirements and remain flexible to upscale our service offering based on increasing demands.”

The above examples are not the only investments being made by Pindulo VDM, however.

Changoo lists a string of other spending commitments, including 100 specially designed trailers which allow for greater payloads. Related to this, the company has patented a cradle design which enables it to marry unrelated commodities and thereby optimise bi-directional transportation legs, again helping to reduce the environmental impact of its operations.

Indeed, supporting sustainable development is a priority, evidenced by Changoo as he comments on the firm’s work to accommodate specialist solar cargo.

“We are dominant players for the specialised cargo handling of photovoltaic panels,” he says.

“Aligned to this we have designed and developed a specialised pallet to increase loads by up to 30 percent on our super link trailers.

“In addition, we also offer specialised cargo handling solutions for concentrated solar power and have designed and developed a tubetainer to allow for the safe and secure transport of tubes of any length or width.”

Expansion has also been part of Pindulo VDM’s recent investment strategy, the company designing a modular and mobile loading system which has increased its container loading throughput capacity by 400 percent.

It has also invested in 54 Volvo trucks, a move which will increase its fleet capacity by 20 percent.

Moving miners forward

The vertical integration of Pindulo VDM enables miners to manage one singular point of contact in overseeing all admin, logistics related to both road and rail as well as storage and handling at the company’s strategically located facilities

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The reason for this latter spend stems from a recent contract award in the mining industry (for South Africa’s largest silicomanganese producer), an area which the company is firmly targeting future growth.

“This project includes the transportation of raw materials and final products for the business and has resulted in exponential growth, meaning that we needed to increase our fleet capacity by 50 percent and add additional staff members to our Pindulo VDM family,” says Changoo.

“The first quarter of the year was therefore utilised to bed down our business processes, to upskill

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A to Z is your strategic partner in financing or Cofinancing, investing, marketing and sourcing in the metals, minerals and mining industries. We provide a wide spectrum of financial and commercial services to assist growth opportunities and optimize service to your customers with less risk, less working capital and, most importantly, increased transparency.

A to Z

INVESTMENTS

A to Z primarily focuses on the marketing and sourcing of coal, industrial minerals and chemicals and materials for steel mills and foundries. We in addition manage all components of the supply chain from producer to consumer.

Johannes van Zyl (Director) Tel: 083 304 0672 Email: johannes@AtoZinvestments.co.za Francois Olivier (Trader) Tel: 082 257 9840 Email: francois@AtoZinvestments.co.za

Unit 2, Ground Floor 3 Melrose Boulevard Melrose Arch Sandton, 2076

Hannes Louw Cell: 061 423 5030 Email: hannes.louw@loutechmss.co.za Email: info@loutechmss.co.za

24/7 when you need us

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Pindulo VDM increases bargaining power for miners, allowing them to compete globally

our resources and to expand our operations within this new territory.”

Changoo also explains how Pindulo VDM has identified the need to support South Africa’s junior mining companies, modifying its proposition to help them grow successfully.

This involves warehousing and bimodal transportation, trade support and assurances in terms of risk relating to finance, insurance, admin support services, compliance, marketing and relationship management, these latter services facilitated by a skilled technical consulting division.

“The vertical integration of Pindulo VDM enables junior miners to manage one singular point of contact who oversees all admin, logistics related to both road and rail as well as storage and handling at our strategically located facilities,” Changoo explains.

“Our value addition stems from the fact that we can consolidate inputs from various locations within the country, and thereby establish

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increased economies of scale and subsequently decrease barriers to entry.”

The impact of this is crucial. By increasing the bargaining power for junior miners and new entrants, such companies can compete with larger players, thus promoting competition in the global market.

Supporting skills

This concept of empowerment can also be applied to Pindulo VDM’s own employees.

Indeed, Changoo is quick to state the paramount importance of staff development to the success of the business, adopting a strategy of employing for attitude and training for skill.

“When we are looking to add another employee to our team, we are looking at how they approach communication, their attitude towards people, what inspires them and what will drive them to work at their best,”

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he adds.

“We are actively searching and recruiting people who treat life as a university of learning, who are reflective and who want to add value and make the world a better place.”

South Africa’s high unemployment has been a catalyst for Changoo and Pindulo VDM to help upskill the population.

In 2017 the company opened its Logistics Academy, a centre which provides training and development for unemployed youth in the form of learnerships, preparing them for a potential career in the supply chain industry.

“I am proud to state that, to date, the academy has trained in excess of 140 learners, all of which originate from previously disadvantaged and socioeconomically challenged communities,” Changoo states, adding that a major priority in the coming year is to expand its reach and scope of teaching.

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“In addition, we are also actively involved in community empowerment with a key focus on areas such as education, food security and disaster relief.”

A dynamic future

This empowering capability is exactly why Changoo joined Pindulo VDM in the first place.

Having spent eight rewarding years

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in the fishing industry, he decided to move out of his comfort zone and pursue a new challenge which would allow him to make a real difference on people’s lives.

“Joining Pindulo VDM also allowed me to work with Deon van der Merwe, my fellow Co-CEO for the business,” Changoo says. “We are both 33 years old and make a fresh, dynamic and complementary team who are geared

KEY DIFFERENTIATORS Asked what sets Pindulo VDM apart in the industry, Changoo states several key factors: A young, dynamic leadership team ready to challenge the status quo.

A one-stop seamless supply chain service aided by real-time demand and supply planning information systems.

A diversified business that provides a holistic approach to the various elements within the supply chain industry.

A network of strategically positioned operational hubs and warehouses as well as back of port operations which are interconnected to the national rail network.

An ability to transport unrelated commodities, with the aid of 2,000-plus multipurpose open top containers.

An innovative approach to R&D, designing equipment which is disrupting the industry.

A flexible approach with tailored solutions for customers.

to captain and navigate our business into the fourth industrial revolution.”

In doing so, Changoo identifies four further priorities for the year ahead, the first involving the continuation of its realignment and diversification strategy centred around its six divisions.

Second is adoption of a new telematics fleet management system, a process which will greatly enhance the company’s ability to harvest, analyse and use data in order to facilitate continuous improvement.

Two further goals include the expansion into the SADC and a greater focus on the FMCG and food sectors, as well as increasing capacity for bulk liquids, fuels and chemicals.

These ambitious plans, coupled with external developments, fill the Co-CEO with confidence regarding the wider development of the industry.

He buoyantly concludes: “Being part of this dynamic business enables me to contribute to the development of the country’s economy, to create opportunity through the empowerment of my staff and greater society and to importantly add value to my growing customer base.

“The increase and more stringent environmental, labour, health and safety legislation, increased pressures from globalisation, an ever-expanding world population, and rapid technological developments makes for an exciting and stimulating journey.

“South Africa is a land of exponential potential and a country which is the gateway to the rest of Africa. I am extremely optimistic regarding the opportunities and rapid growth potential for this industry.”

Pindulo VDM Tel: +27 22 714 3231 sales@pindulovdm.co.za www.vdmsa.com

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Head Office: 127/1 Yzervarkensrug, Saldanha, South Africa Tel: +27 22 714 3231 info@pindulovdm.co.za Cape Town Office: 8 Wessex Street, Paarden Island, Cape Town, South Africa Tel: +27 21 201 0424 sales@pindulovdm.co.za www.vdmsa.com

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