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WHEREVER YOU GOGAC Laser Logistics,South AfricaAs imports to Africa have grown, so too has the need for efficientair, sea and road freight solutions to get those imports to their finaldestination. In South Africa, GAC Laser International Logistics (GACLaser) handles imports for the domestic market, re-exports goodsto other African countries and exports African goods to the world.SpringboardThis joint venture between the GACGroup and South Africa’s Laser Group is aspringboard for trade with Africa, centredon its bases in Cape Town, Durban andJohannesburg.Through GAC’s global networkand Laser’s local expertise, the companyoffers complete supply chain solutions toSouth African importers and exporters.Services include specialist clearing andforwarding, value-added warehousing, and24/7 customer support. These are built onflexible solutions, modern IT capabilitiesand compliance with international securitystandards.Navigating the minefieldCEO Simon Hayes says: “Trading andexporting into Africa can be like navigatinga minefield – essentially it’s aboutmanaging the risk. Each country has itsown unique customs, banking, legislationand documentation requirements. Rulesof trade can change overnight and it’snot unusual to have freight in the air to adestination only to learn that an embargohas been announced.”GAC Laser has the know-how andcontacts to guide freight safely to its final14 GAC WORLD | JULY 2010
GAC WRAPBeating thesqueeze withrecord citrusshipmentdestination. Approximately 46% of theservices provided by its Johannesburgbranch (in the province of Gauteng), just5 minutes from O R Tambo InternationalAirport, are export based.Africa’s mineral riches also representan important sector of GAC Laser Logistics’business. The company has successfullyhandled the complete export process forclients in the African mining industry.Diamonds from Angola and copper fromZambia are just some of the commoditiesthe company sends to markets as far afieldas China and South America.GAC Laser also handles imports ofchemicals and other commodities essentialfor developing the continent’s infrastructureand its growing industrial sector.GAC Laser will handle a record 2,800,000 cartons of Valencia oranges - just monthsafter entering the South African citrus market.Prior to 2010, a strictly-controlled cold chain was required for all SouthAfrican fruit exports, adding significant costs to the supply chain.Now, however, the local citrus industry has new regulations that significantlyreduce the cost of shipping their juicy loads to European, Middle Eastern and FarEast destinations.The Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) now allows certaincitrus produce (including Valencia oranges) to be handled and stored at ambienttemperatures provided that the fruit is packed into reefer containers or vesselswithin 10 days of inspection at the farms or pack houses.Around the clockCEO Simon Hayes says that to meet the challenges of the new business, GACLaser will be working around the clock during the peak season to ensure that all2,800,000 cartons of fruit are handled in accordance with PPECB regulations.The company’s new warehouse, completed at the end of last year, is 12kmfrom the Port of Durban. The facility has 14 covered container bays and excellentvehicle receiving areas, WI-FI scanning capabilities and top-grade security. To speedup the handling process, double pallet handling forklift attachments have beenfitted and individual pallet positions demarcated for accurate and speedy locationbased on FIFO (First In - First Out) principles and specific target market loading.A PPECB Officer will also be based at the warehouse to ensure compliance withthe 10-day rule.Simon Hayes adds: “We believe the competence of our team in effectivelyplanning and communicating with the growers, transporters, shipping lines andlocal authorities will establish us as a leader in this new market.”JULY 2010 | GAC WORLD 15
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World - GAC

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