STRAUSS LOGISTICS

STRAUSS LOGISTICS

Contributing to a smoother flowing economy

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Flows Where Business

Strauss Logistics is taking Zimbabwe’s economic troubles in its stride, remaining a strong industry leader in fuel distribution Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Josh Hyland

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ith the current economic troubles facing Zimbabwean industries, Strauss Logistics still remains a power in the fuel distribution industry.

Strauss Logistics has witnessed rapid progression since its formation in 2011; the Company as we know it today was borne out of a trading arm selling fuel to the region using third party transporters. Due to the unreliable nature of using someone else for transport, the directors decided to form a logistics company.

The Company has since evolved

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Darren Da Silva, Chief Operating Officer

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exponentially from these humble beginnings with just 18 tankers in August, 2011, to a fleet size of 108 tankers today.

In Strauss Logistics’ first year, the Company mainly began by transporting fuel from Mozambique into Zimbabwe; alongside this it also ran the distribution in Zimbabwe for Zuva Petroleum. It wasn’t until the end of 2012 that the Company decided to increase its fleet after receiving a mass influx of enquiries for cross-border work.

“We bought another 20 tankers in 2012 to undertake the cross-border

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STANSERV GENUINE SERVICES (PTY) LTD

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tanserv Genuine Services (Pvt) Ltd, known as SGS-Stanserv in Southern Africa, is the regional leader in volumetric calibration services and associated fuel equipment supply and maintenance.

As a core specialist service provider of volumetric calibration services, the Company provides real time quantification solutions for issues such as product received, product offloaded/ loaded, amount of product in the storage facility, as well as the accuracy of the instrument used for measuring volumes which tends to drift with time.

Strauss took its research to China to inspect the tanker manufacturers there

work. One of the things we made sure to do was study the costing out of South Africa for the tankers and we found that they weren’t really cost effective,” explains Darren Da Silva, Chief Operating Officer at Strauss Logistics.

Following on from this discovery, the Company took its research out to China to inspect the tanker manufacturers’ there and decided to partner with, Hong Tai Special Truck Company (HTSTC); a tanker manufacturer already achieving high standards within the industry. Strauss initiated the new phase by making one tanker in China, which it then brought back to Africa to use as a model for all other tankers to be used by the Company.

Da Silva continues: “After bringing it back to Africa, Strauss Logistics used the tanker and bought another five which it then went on to upgrade with the specifications to make it suitable for the African road. Five years later we’ve

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After bringing it back to Africa, Strauss Logistics used the tanker and bought another five which it then went on to upgrade with the specifications to make it suitable for the African road

Such issues tend to be critical in process plants, blending plants, fuel storage and retail facilities, and mining operations where oils and fuels are main cost centres. For such organisations, the Company has proved to be the service provider of choice as evidenced by its clientele base which includes some of the most demanding and largest corporations.

When it comes to road and rail tanker and tank degassing and cleaning, the Company uses only the most high-tech equipment and procedures, degassing road and rail tankers and tanks ready for welding, maintenance and loading of various sensitive products including Jet A1, AVGAS, drinking water and ingredients for the food and beverage industry.

The Company also specialises in the supply and installation of all petroleum equipment and fittings for aviation sites, depots, gantries, service stations and tankers.

Providing Strauss Logistics with road tanker calibration, tanker degassing, tanker cleaning, pump and meter calibration services, we have completed projects in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R.C).

www.sgs-stanserv.com

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VOLUMETRIC CALIBRATION

ESSENTIAL SERVICES

Road/Rail tanker, Ullage Bar, Vertical/Horizontal Tanks, Fuel Pump/Dispenser, Bulk Flow Meter, Etc

Tanker Degassing, Pressure Testing, Hydro leak Testing, Road Tanker Cleaning, Fuel Monitoring, Inspections and Custodial services

SUPPLY, INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE

VOLUMETRIC CALIBRATION SERVICES & VOLUMETRIC CALIBRATION SERVICES FUEL MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

VOLUMETRIC CALIBRATION AND FUEL MANAGEMENT SERVICES & 595 Simon Mazorodze Road, Waterfalls, Harare

FUEL MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

Bulk Flow Meters, Couplings, Loading Arms, Fuel Pumps/ Dispensers, Filtration Systems, Ect

MANAGEMENT P.O. Box AYFUEL 128, Amby, Harare, Zimbabwe SOLUTIONS www.sgs-stanserv.com 595 Simon Mazorodze Road, Waterfalls, Harare

Forecourt Solution, Fleet Solution, Lube Solution, Terminal/Depot Automation

P.O. Box AY 128, Amby, Harare, Zimbabwe

d Office: ax: (+263 4) 613 613, 613 729 (+263) 772 349 467 ail: info@sgs-stanserv.com

Calibration Bay: Truck Wash Bay/ Degassing Bay: Tel: (+263 4) 613 711www.sgs-stanserv.com Tel: (+263 4) 613 344 Cell: (+263) 772 283 838 Cell: (+263) 772 421 901

Head Office: Tel/Fax: (+263 4) 613 613, 613 729 Cell: (+263) 772 349 467 E-mail: info@sgs-stanserv.com

Calibration Bay: Tel: (+263 4) 613 711 Cell: (+263) 772 283 838

Truck Wash Bay/ Degassing Bay: Tel: (+263 4) 613 344 Cell: (+263) 772 421 901

BUSINESS HOURS Monday - Sunday SUPPLY | INSTALLATION | MAINTENANCE | CALIBRATION 0800hrs - 1700hrs

BUSINESS HOURS DISTRIBUTOR OFFICIALOFFICIAL DISTRIBUTOR Monday - Sunday 0800hrs - 1700hrs OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTOR

Head Office: Tel/Fax: (+263 4) 613 613, 613 729 Cell: (+263) 772 349 467 E-mail: info@sgs-stanserv.com

Calibration Bay: Tel: (+263 4) 613 711 Cell: (+263) 772 283 838

Truck Wash Bay/ Degassing Bay: Tel: (+263 4) 613 344 Cell: (+263) 772 421 901

www.sgs-stanserv.com

SUPPLY | INSTALLATION | MAINTENANCE | CALIBRATION

SUPPLY | INSTALLATION | MAINTENANCE | CALIBRATION

Professional tanker, trailer & truck manufacturer in China Honored to have a close relationship with Strauss since 2012.

WhatsApp & Telephone +8613632590144

We provide not only tankers to Strauss, but also offer financial support and solutions.

www.magatruck.com

Email 6855871@qq.com

MAGA

international

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George Matongo delivers a driver training presentation

bought more than 100 tankers from them and are proud to be our Chinese partner’s Southern Africa agent.”

The partnership remains very close between Strauss Logistics and HTSTC to this day; the Chinese making a yearly trip to Zimbabwe to ensure the tankers are built to the correct specifications and the relationship is still running smoothly.

From 2012 to the current date, Strauss logistics has increased its fleet by 108 tankers and an additional 24 tankers for Zuva Petroleum.

Deliver high standards

Strauss Logistics consistently observes trends in order to stay on top of the market, and it is through this constant monitoring of the fuel industry that the Company realised the need to branch out into rail operations in order to cater for all its clients. Strauss Logistics subsequently began to transport via rail from Matola to the Southern half of Zimbabwe, making the country’s

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In April, 2016 we achieved ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certification, which was a big step for us as it gives all our stakeholders the confidence that we work to a set of internationally recognised standards

fuel costs far cheaper.

The decision to expand into rail services gave customers a costeffective alternative to road transport in locations where the road network would create a higher cost; the Company’s rail advantage lends itself to cross-border works which now account for 98 percent of Strauss’s footprint.

To facilitate this expansion, the Company has paid equally stringent attention to its own internal efficiencies; culminating in certifications that continue to catch the eye of prospective customers.

“In April, 2016 we achieved ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) and OHSAS 18001 (Occupational Health & Safety) certification, which was a big step for us as it gives all our stakeholders the confidence that we work to a set of internationally recognised standards,” Da Silva comments. “This certification boosted our efficiencies and has given us access to new markets.”

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S E TYRE S O O H C N YOU CA

Eastlea, Harare, Zimbabwe: Graniteside, Harare, Zimbabwe: Belmont, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe: Industria, Kwekwe, Zimbabwe:

(00) 2634 788286-9 (00) 2634 710105-8 (00) 2639 66941-3 (00) 2635 523221-2

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A large measure of the success that Strauss enjoys is down to the people working within it

“Internationally when people see ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 accreditation on our website, they understand that we deliver high standards which helps get our message across to people that can’t physically see our work.”

Due to the Company’s accelerated expansion over the past few years, it has received a lot of interest from companies seeking Strauss Logistics out to take on bulk work. Despite the Company specialising in liquid petroleum products, companies have still been enquiring as to whether Strauss would consider entering this domain.

“People have been asking us if we can do bulk, so it’s certainly something we are looking into to see if it would be worthwhile. On the rail side of things we have already started working with bulk, in particular products such as chrome and granite, and it’s working well in this department so we are

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definitely looking into applying it to our road services,” adds Da Silva.

...when people see ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 accreditation on our website, they understand that we deliver high standards which helps get our message across to people that can’t physically see our work

Motivate from the top down

A large measure of the success that Strauss enjoys is down to the people working within it, staying true to the belief that a solid reputation is down to trust and serving clients properly; as well as maintaining a good rapport with service providers and everyone along the value chain of the Company.

Da Silva elaborates: “You can imagine we load in Beira, Matola, Durban, Johannesburg and deliver all over Southern Africa, so it’s vitally important that you know everyone along the chain to make it successful.

Like it says on our website, it’s our people; it’s our relationships with clients as well as service providers.

Anyone can go and buy 100 trucks, but what makes the difference is how you actually interact with people. I think what it comes down to is, do your

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of department and their staff then there is no hope for success and we believe that is why we stand out as an employer of choice in Zimbabwe,” Da Silva elaborates.

Future development

clients actually of these new trust you or not?” technologies For a relatively we are not young Company, only providing Strauss Logistics a better Strauss is an has developed service but also employer of choice in quite a large Zimbabwe becoming more team; therefore, efficient.” management has quite The combination the task of handling all of technology and staff those people and maintaining training which takes place at a trustworthy relationship on a day Strauss makes a huge difference to to-day basis. For Da Silva, this is the the service the Company is providing. element which places the business Whether the service providers or ahead of the competition. customers are overseas or local, “We are continuously training our Strauss ensures it will have had a onestaff with the latest technologies as to-one interaction with them at some keeping up with the times is a big stage. thing at Strauss Logistics. Our tracking “We have found that the best system is second to none and we can motivation in a Company will tell where any one vehicle is at any come from the board of directors time; our customers have access to downwards, therefore at Strauss our global tracking on the internet and we motivate from the top down; if can see exactly where their product is your directors don’t motivate the in transit at any time. With the set-up executive team and in turn the heads

Looking forward, despite the economic troubles which are currently plaguing Zimbabwe, the Company has high hopes of doubling its fleet in the next three to five years.

“There is quite a lot of economic difficulty at the moment, but thankfully we are working through it and are coming out in good shape; I’m hoping that in the next five years the world commodities will have stabilised,” explains Da Silva.

As Strauss provides the mines with fuel, if the mines productivity is down then the Company is affected; however, things are looking positive for the business moving forward with commodities’ prices seeing a slow revival.

In terms of Strauss’s rail portfolio, the Company is equally attentive to certain trends, and therefore realistic about the downturn in rail network infrastructure; consequently the Company has invested with the National Railways of Zimbabwe as part of the Private Public Partnership (PPP) scheme.

Da Silva concludes: “Strauss has refurbished 100 railway wagons as part of the PPP scheme, which gives us the capacity to move our customers’ products. In the future we’d like to do the same PPP scheme with the National Railways of Zimbabwe in regards to locomotives. If you came back in two years time, I’d like to say to you that we would have five or six locomotives running across the region.

“Going into the future, we would most definitely like to expand into other countries in Central Africa and open depots in the different capitals throughout the region; for now having our sights set on Southern Africa is a good starting point.”

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STRAUSS LOGISTICS 3 King George Road Avondale Harare Zimbabwe T: +263 4 792 296 www.strausslogistics.com

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