NEWS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
Serco helps folk get their daily bread
N
ew truck and trailer combinations
recently built by Serco for Pioneer
Foods (Sasko Bakeries) are now
being used to deliver thousands of loaves
of bread every day all over the Western
Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
The combinations comprise van body
trucks, drawbar trailers and stepdeck
trailers.
Built at the Serco plant in Cape Town,
the vehicles are designed to carry the
maximum possible number of crates of
bread for Pioneer Foods daily from the
bakeries to depots around the country.
Although Serco has built a variety of
vehicles for Pioneer Foods previously, this
was the first order for complete trailer
combinations.
A feature is that the drawbar trailers
have concertina front doors which allow
the bread to be loaded through the rear
via a ramp into the van body trucks which
significantly speeds up the loading process.
The technical manager: vehicles at
Sasko Bakeries, Arno Lourens, said the new
Serco vehicles were now operating all
over the country and proving to be worthy
acquisitions to Sasko’s fleet.
Lourens said he was impressed with the
high quality of workmanship on the vehicles,
which is something he had come to expect
from Serco after doing business with the
company for the past three years.
Serco Technical Sales representative
based in Cape Town, Jeremy Freedman
explained that the combinations comprised
four van body trucks (8.75 x 2.60 x 2.95mm),
four drawbar trailers (9.77 x 2.60 x 3.20mm)
and five stepdeck trailers (15.50 x 2.60 x
3.29mm).
“Sasko told us what they wanted
and expected and we purpose-built the
vehicles and delivered according to their
requirements – lightweight vehicles to carry
the maximum bread crates possible,” adds
Freedman. CLA
Sasko’s new purpose built vehicle.
Serco welcomes new global partner
to its innovation team
S
erco has partnered with Loadlok,
a South African tour to introduce their
company supplies. He then spoke about
the applications and challenges in the
a cargo control company from the
technology to Serco’s key customers in
cargo restraints, multi‑temperature
local market.”
Netherlands, to ensure it maintains
centres including Durban, Cape Town
load dividers and the solutions they
and Johannesburg.
could offer to South Africa, such as their
Serco has been manufacturing in South
double‑stacking system which Serco has
Africa, we have been fortunate to have
started introducing locally.
developed relationships with some of
its dominant position in the market, as
well as to keep abreast with the latest
At well-attended breakfast
ideas and technology currently available
gatherings, Loadlok’s director
internationally.
of production, research and
Loadlock’s CEO Johan de Rooij
recently joined Serco representatives for
“In the more than 35 years that
Serco managing director, Clinton
the top blue‑chip companies in various
development, Eelco Noort, delivered
Holcroft, also addressed the meetings
sectors of the market. By partnering with
insights into the different markets the
saying the goal of his company is to
these key industry leaders, we are able to
constantly strive to give its customers
jointly look for new ways to bring about
‘the Serco edge’. “This means working
efficiencies in the South African transport
with our loyal customers to ensure they
market. This is the win/win we are looking
benefit fully from the latest value-adding
for in these partnerships,” said Holcroft.
technology, thus giving them the edge in
their markets,” said Holcroft.
Holcroft said Serco was delighted to
“But we can’t do this by ourselves, so
we are continuously looking to partner
with organisations, such as Loadlok,
welcome Loadlok as its partner in South
who come with great solutions and
Africa. “Loadlok is a European leader in
experience.”
cargo control products, and is keen to
work with us to find the best solutions for
Serco is the official distributor for
Loadlok in Southern Africa.
CLA
Together here are (from left) Johan de Rooij and Eelco Noort of Loadlok in the
Netherlands, and Charl Coetzee and Tyrone Deyes of Serco.
COLD LINK AFRICA • July | August 2016
www.coldlinkafrica.co.za
9