23.06.10
All the way from China to the World Cup host nation South Africa: Logwin brings escalators and elevators to the Cape for ThyssenKrupp
- Escalator delivery at Sandton Station
Grevenmacher (Luxembourg) – The Gautrain rapid transit railway is one of the most significant infrastructure projects in South Africa. Logwin’s client, ThyssenKrupp, is fitting out a total of 10 Gautrain stations with escalators and elevators. The international logistics provider Logwin is transporting the machinery from its manufacturing site in Zhongshan (China) direct to the Gautrain construction sites around 12,000 kilometres away.
South Africa on the move
Three days before the first whistle blows in the World Cup, the first leg of the journey from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to the suburb of Sandton officially gets underway. ThyssenKrupp is installing a total of 49 escalators and 39 elevators in the underground, at ground and upper level train stations and in several adjoining aboveground sites as well, such as shopping centres and car parks. The machinery is transported via Logwin’s branch office in the Chinese city of Guangzhou. From there it travels initially by ocean freight to Durban, then on to Johannesburg. The final stage involves a number of oversize loads. “Some components are not only large in terms of their dimensions, but are also very heavy – this makes site deliveries particularly challenging,” says Jochem Heichler, Project Manager for Logwin in Johannesburg. “For example, we delivered an escalator to Sandton station that was 27 metres long and weighed 36 tonnes. We then used a crane to manoeuvre it into a 35 metre shaft.” In addition to transport, Logwin takes care of local customs processing and intermediate warehousing for ThyssenKrupp.
Major project takes strain off roads
The Gautrain was named after the South African province of Gauteng, where construction on the approximately 3 billion euros project began in May 2006. The high-speed train will connect the capital Pretoria with Johannesburg and OR Tambo International Airport. With a top speed of 160 km/h, the train will take 42 minutes for the roughly 80-kilometre journey from Johannesburg Park Station to Hatfield, the terminus in Pretoria. The aim is to achieve a lasting reduction in road traffic, especially on the congested N1 and N14 highways. The rapid transit railway, including the 10 stations, is due to be completed by March 2011.
When one game ends, the next one begins
“There is construction going on all over the place in South Africa – and that won’t change once the World Cup is over either,” Jochem Heichler says. “In addition to logistics for the Gautrain stations, we’re assisting ThyssenKrupp with a number of other projects as well, such as fitting out shopping centres and office buildings.” Since 2009, Logwin has shipped around 200 40-foot container loads of elevator and escalator equipment from China, Germany, Spain and Italy, and delivered it to construction sites in South Africa. Further projects are being planned.
About Logwin AG
As an external partner, Logwin AG, Grevenmacher (Luxembourg), develops a comprehensive range of logistics and service solutions for trade and industry. In 2009, the group generated sales of 1.1 billion euros and currently employs approximately 5,500 staff. Logwin operates in all main markets worldwide and has locations across all continents. With its two business segments Solutions (customer-focused contract logistics solutions) and Air + Ocean (global air and sea freight activities), Logwin AG is one of the leaders in the market.
The Logwin business segment Air + Ocean is represented at over 200 locations, of which 98 are wholly-owned, on all five continents. Around 1,900 employees provide air and sea freight transport as well as specially tailored and complex logistics solutions. The focus of their international engagement is in Europe, Asia, Australia, South America and South Africa. The global network is reinforced by partnerships and cooperation agreements, which include membership of the sea freight cooperation Group 99 and the air freight cooperation FUTURE.
Logwin AG is listed in the Prime Standard of the Deutsche Börse. The majority shareholder is DELTON AG, Bad Homburg (Germany).
Your contact at Logwin:
Volker Hoebelt
Director Global Sales + Marketing and Airfreight Air + Ocean
Phone: +49 6021 343-9000
Fax: +49 6021 343-9008
volker.hoebelt@logwin-logistics.com
Logwin AG | ZIR Potaschberg | 5, an de Laengten | 6776 Grevenmacher | Luxembourg
