Plant Equipment and Hire November 2017 | Page 32

MAINTENANCE Facts and figures • • • • • • Warehousing facility: – 60 000m 2 under roof (57 000m 2 for the main building and 3 000m 2 detached for remanufacturing and liquids) – over eight times the size of the Soccer City field – 20 000m 2 outside Barloworld Equipment: 1 685m 2 in the main warehouse and 695m 2 in the detached building 260 000 storage locations, ranging from bins to floor locations Storage: 110 000 different part numbers Serves more than 70 dealer locations throughout southern Africa Ships out ±40 tonnes of material a day. New distribution centre From left: Jessica Lapenn (chargé d’affaires at the US Embassy), Masele Madihlaba (acting mayor MMC), and Rob Charter (Caterpillar group president: Customer and Dealer Support). Sustainability • • • • • • Rainwater tank for water capture and reuse Solar-powered geysers Large windows to maximise daylight and minimise electricity use Motion sensors to control lighting and minimise electricity use Wastewater recycling (planned) Additional solar panels (planned). this type in South Africa,” said Charter. Speaking at the opening, acting mayor of Ekurhuleni, Masele Madihlaba, highlighted the potential benefits of Caterpillar’s investment for the City of Ekurhuleni and its people. “Caterpillar is one of the global leading companies in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of machinery in the world. The capital goods that they produce are critical to the industrial activities that carry many economies around the world. It is therefore a great development in the industrial life of our city that today we are witnessing the launch of the distribution plant for equipment. “Investments of this nature in our local economy provide the much-needed room for growth and economic development in the manner that creates wider economic opportunities for local residents through jobs, entrepreneurial space, and skills development. Because of our strategic position as a gateway into Africa and the world via the OR Tambo International Airport, we want to serve as a logistical rallying point for Caterpillar parts and distribution network • • • • • • • • • • 10 000 customers operating machines within the region Over 35 000 active machines and engines in southern Africa 8 500 suppliers worldwide 11 million items per week received into distribution network 21 distribution centres worldwide with 1.5 million sqm of space ±950 trucks per week moving material into the network 180 dealers worldwide, including in 53 African countries More than 2 000 customer-facing dealer stores Five customer orders placed per second 140 000 parts entering the system every day. all investment in the continent. Therefore, we are aiming to increase the value of this investment by connecting more local entrepreneurs into the industrial and marketing value chain that will come out of this investment by Caterpillar and other similar companies. “The successful investment of Caterpillar as a company in this project will also translate to a success on our part to push back against unemployment in our city. We are positive that today marks the start of greater partnerships between us as the city and the company.” Jessica Lapenn, chargé d’affaires at the US Embassy, emphasised the importance of US companies like Caterpillar investing in South Africa and the region. “The US has worked with South Africa for several years to create this job-creating growth. Caterpillar has contributed to this goal, creating jobs here for decades while also supporting jobs at home in the United States. By making your largest ever investment on the continent of Africa here in South Africa, you are • • • 30 98% of parts ordered by customers is located within the region, either at the distribution centre or within the dealer distribution network 1% of parts ordered by customers is within Caterpillar’s global distribution network 1% are back orders that need to be sourced or manufactured. NOVEMBER 2017 Southern African region The facility’s 260 000 storage locations, ranging from bins to floor locations, house 110 000 different part numbers.