Capital Equipment News April 2018

Kulani Africa Gas Transport, a newly-established transport company that specialises in the bulk delivery of liquid petroleum gas, has opted for a fleet of Scania trucks to kick-start its business.

service both our in-house transport needs and outside customers. Though the bulk of our early business is based on moving LPG for the mother company, the transport business is an independent entity that runs separately from the holding company,” says Heling. To kick-start its LPG transport business, the company placed an order of nine Scania ADR spec’d truck tractors late last year. “Since December 2017, we have bought six G460 and three G410 models. The trucks are full ADR specified,” says Heling. There is a strategic plan to grow the fleet to 20 vehicles in the next 12 months, but Heling reiterates that the decision will be influenced by a sustainable business flow during that period. The current fleet will be operated over four years before it is replaced. “We are looking at four years/650 000 km replacement cycles,” says Heling. Why Scania? There were several reasons that informed the decision to purchase Scania vehicles for Kulani’s very first fleet into the ADR business, but more importantly it was Heling’s experience with the Scania brand over many years of his transport management career. For Heling, the most important asset for any business is the relationships you build along the way. Whether those be with customers, suppliers or others in your supply chain, these are more important than bricks and mortar. Heling used to work for one of the largest transport companies in South Africa for many years, where he was first exposed to Scania. From there, he started a new transport operation for another company

QUICK TAKE

To kick-start its LPG transport business, Kulani Africa Gas Transport placed an order of nine Scania ADR spec’d truck tractors late last year

The fleet comprises six G460 and three G410 models

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There is a strategic plan to grow the fleet to 20 vehicles in the next 12 months

2018

2019

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Kulani is looking at four years/650 000 km replacement cycles for its fleet

650 000 km

into southern Africa, Kulani understands the importance of having the right product at the right destination, at the right time. The company also understands that the transportation of ADR substances is a separate discipline within its area of business. It is for the reason that Heling, who boasts many years of experience in the transport industry, was brought on board to

lead the Kulani transport business, which started operations in December 2017. The bulk of the transport company’s work stream is from its mother company at this stage, with an 80-20 ratio versus outside work. However, Heling says the aim is to achieve a 50-50 work flow balance by 2019, to establish a sustainable stream of work. “Kulani’s transport business will

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