HEADLINE
 

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Edgin supports Pebbles Community Project

Edgin has had the privilege to partake in a community initiative called Pebbles Project. Helping Children with Special Needs - the Pebbles Project's purpose is to enrich the lives of children from disadvantaged backgrounds with special educational needs, especially those whose lives are affected by alcohol.
Through providing support and training to local wine farm and township crèches, and establishing after-school provision for older children living in the Winelands, Pebbles hopes to assist in making life better for the children as well as for the parents.

They are currently impacting on the lives of over 500 children, and have trained more than 35 staff. Their work supports children, teenagers, parents and wider communities in the Somerset West, Stellenbosch and Paarl areas of the Western Cape.

In July this year, Edgin was approached by a UK-based company called Injabulu to assist them with the logistics of importing boxes of donated scarves, gloves and beanies that was specially knitted by volunteers in the United Kingdom. Magda Harding at Edgin immediately recognised what a worthy cause this was, and arranged that not only did Edgin manage the entire logistics chain from Heathrow to Pebbles head office in Stellenbosch, but also that Edgin would pay all of the costs involved.

This done, Magda and another Edgin employee Chanell Brophy met with Estee Heyns, the Pebbles project coordinator to assist in distributing the donated items. They visited 3 of the crèche projects that Pebbles is currently busy with, at the wine farms Niel Joubert, Delheim and Eikendal, and have committed to being involved in future projects.

HEADLINE
Shippers vote with their feet against Transnet inefficiency
- Freight & Trading Weekly

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Project Cargo
Cargo keeps moving despite slowdown
Carrie Curzon - Freight & Trading Weekly

It could take three to four years to get back to ‘Go’, according to Dave Johnson, managing director of Edgin Logistic Solutions. Which is not to say he is that pessimistic about the current state of economic affairs. In fact far from it. “From our perspective the outlook is very good,” he says. “We have managed to streamline our operations so that even if there was no improvement in the economy we would still show some small growth year on year. “Considering that there are already signs of commodities bouncing back, it’s clear that an upward curve is beginning.” However, he adds a word of caution. “Having said that, we are of the opinion that it will be at least three to four years before we are handling the volumes we did before the worldwide slowdown in trade.” From its warehouse in the Cape Town foreshore, Edgin receives and packs project cargoes that can involve either specialised packaging and crating, or the expert securing of large items on flatracks. The company then ensures safe transportation of the cargo to the port and on board the vessel. For imports the reverse applies, as for example the large consignments currently being handled for the Greenpoint Stadium. Dealing with project cargo is a fast-growing part of Edgin’s business, particularly with the addition of Rob Brown to their staff early this year. A doyen in the projects industry, he brought many of his clients dealing with specialised cargoes with him. At Edgin some slacking off in the work-load is expected over the next 18 months, because most of the large projects are planned two to three years in advance. “There are now fewer enquiries, but workwise not much has changed,” explains Johnson. “We face three challenges now and each of those is ‘to remain positive’. “It was after all negative perceptions of the world’s credit worthiness that created this mess in the first place.”

Logistics Feature
New device improves container security
Partnering helps clients through global crisis
Freight & Trading Weekly

Security of ocean-going containers has been improved with the introduction of a new device developed by Cape-Town based EDGIN Logistics Solutions. “Recognising the need for additional security, we have just developed and successfully used a custom-made device that records when an ocean container door has been opened and closed,” says Dave Johnson of EDGIN. Working in a similar manner to a Ryan recorder (which records the temperature inside a reefer container for later analysis), this device records the date and time each time a container door is opened and closed. The company continues to invest through the downturn. It recently opened a facility in Port Elizabeth, offering its timber clients packing services closer to the forests of the Eastern Cape, in addition to general warehousing with container storage, packing and unpacking facilities. EDGIN has also added 6 600m2 of covered space in Cape Town. “This space may come in handy for large prospective clients, such as the proposed mining projects on the West Coast,” says Johnson. The company is partnering with clients to help them through the global crisis, says Johnson: “We have found that the present downturn has put tremendous strain on our existing client base, particularly those involved in the export of raw materials. “Many of those clients have been with us since our company was founded and we really view them as our business partners.” EDGIN’s discussions with its clients has allowed it to offer extended credit terms, reduced rates and lower costs by streamlining operations, he said.

3 PL comes of age
Companies are starting to realise the advantages of third party logistics as a result of the downturn, according to Dave Johnson of EDGIN. Manufacturers using internal logistics functions now have idle warehouses and low stock, and third-party logistics providers can save a lot of money by preventing this. “By using a 3PL you are spreading the risk of wasted space, not to mention the idle personnel and capital equipment,” he says. EDGIN also offers fourth party logistics services and has found that this can also be cost-effective, according to Johnson. He practises what he preaches and outsources where necessary. “One of the most important aspects of logistics is honesty, and if you’re honest you’ll admit that some of your peers can do a better job than you with some products, or that they have a facility more suited to a particular commodity or storage requirement.” EDGIN outsources warehousing to three other concerns in Cape Town alone.

Warehousing Feature
CT facility saves costs thanks to proximity to terminal
New Culemborg warehouse bolsters covered storage portfolio
Liesl Venter - Freight & Trading Weekly

Cape Town-based Edgin Logistic Solutions recently opened new covered storage facilities at Culemborg adding 6 600m2 to its warehousing portfolio. “Situated within 2km of the container terminal, this new warehouse is ideally suited to the stuffing and de-stuffing of containers and will be kept solely for the storage and handling of clean, dust-free cargoes,” company director Dave Johnson told FTW. “It is our ability to utilise dedicated warehouse spaces for different cargoes that allows Edgin to handle and store just about everything – from large bulk shipments of fertiliser or grains to smaller containerised shipments of specialised commodities or products.” Focusing on the provision of a variety of logistical and warehousing solutions, custom-made to suit each individual client’s needs, the company was founded in 2004. “We realised that there was a need for a logistics provider that served the client’s needs in a cost-effective, professional manner on a 24-hour basis,” says Johnson. Since then the company has made great strides. And for Johnson and his team there is much promise in 2009. “While everyone in the industry is hurting because of the current slump in commodity movement, we know that the market can’t remain this way and will improve. Rather than sit around lamenting the slowdown, we busy ourselves planning for the upswing,” he says. There are many challenges already in this industry, says Johnson, with the biggest being the ability to deliver on promises in a logistical chain over which you have no practical control. “The long queues and waiting times at the ports and empty container depots continue to plague the whole industry. We combat this by extending our full storage yard hours.” The company operates from 06:00 to 22:00 Monday to Friday, 07:00 to 16:30 on Saturdays, and on Sundays based on demand. “In this way our clients can take advantage of quiet periods at the depots and container terminals.” Being close to the port is a big advantage, in Johnson’s view. “With 24 000m2 of covered warehousing in Cape Town, and a 6 500m2 container yard conveniently situated at Culemborg, 1km from the Port of Cape Town with easy access to the N1 and N2, we can effectively see our clients’ transport costs reduced.”