KZN Exporter of the Year Awards 2013

2013-10-30

The Transnet/ Durban Chamber of Commerce KZN Exporter of the Year Awards 2013

The KZN Exporter of the Year 2013 will be announced tonight at the Durban ICC.  Sponsored by port operator Transnet Port Terminals in conjunction with the Durban Chamber of Commerce, the KZN Exporter of the Year Awards recognises the efforts of local companies who have made their mark in the competitive export market.

South Africa's strategy is to grow the economy through exports, an area where KwaZulu-Natal makes a significant contribution as a province alone considering its 16% impact on the country's GDP, the second largest after Gauteng.  We congratulate the 10 finalists who have achieved in the export market, and wish them the best of luck.

Competitors were nominated in five categories, and the ten finalists are, in alphabetical order:

Finalists in the Small Business category:

Imperial Armour
Imperial Armour manufacturers a broad range of body armour and personal protection products for the military, the police, security companies, fire-fighting and rescue services. Other customers include VIP protection services (body-guards), antiriot units and even demining units (for landmine clearance) and dog units who make use of both personal protection and ballistic canine vests.

Imperial Armour was established in 2000 and has developed into a market leader in the manufacture and supply of personal protection equipment, competing both locally and in the international market, exporting to 75 countries around the world.

Located in Westmead, Imperial Armour opened Imperial Armour Middle East in Dubai in 2013.

Mexan Products                            
Mexan assists companies in the food, beverage and chemical industries to pack faster, improve hygiene and pack more efficiently.

Founded in 1993 to serve the food and beverage  industry, today Mexan focuses on filling, washing and handling equipment in the food, beverage and packaging industries , specialising in automation and stainless steel fabrications.

Customers range from major companies like Nampak, Astrapak,Polyoak , SAB, Clover, Woolworths and Pick 'n Pay, to small start-up juice , water and dairy  businesses. 

Focusing on quality service and reliability, Mexan has grown steadily.  2013 has been a record year for the company, with record export sales into Africa. 

Our strategy is to grow our business with existing customers through reliability and service, and enter new markets to grow and prosper with our customers and our stakeholders. 

Mexan is located in a 1000m2 factory in the Maxmead Pinetown area, and employs 31 people.

Finalists in the Medium Business category:

Green Office
Founded in 1997 as a remanufacturer of used printer cartridges, Green Office has reformed the office environment by transforming document processes and eliminating many of the associated costs, saving their clients the earth.

Green Office
• supplies hardware and consumables, including high-quality remanufactured cartridges
• services and maintains a company's printing environment
• recycles and remanufactures toner printer cartridges
• implements software to help a company manage its print environment
• offers an all-in-one Managed Print Service (MPS) 

Green Office's commitment to sustainability is instilled in our core values, and our commitment to community can be seen in the time, business knowledge and skills invested in communities; helping individuals to reach their full potential.

PT Engineering
PT Engineering is a family owned business committed to the design and manufacture of specialized equipment to off-shore oil and gas industries, as well as the sugar and general engineering industries throughout Africa and around the world. 

With a reputation for high quality products and customer service, PT Engineering designs and manufactures a fleet of cargo carrying units as well as large range of bespoke equipment to the latest offshore specifications.   Within Africa, PT Engineering is one of a few companies that designs and manufacture to these globally recognised standards.

PT Engineering is proud to have been awarded ISO 9001:2008 certification as well as a NOSA 5 Star safety rating, and believes that their continued success is due to their good quality and competitively priced products that are supported and made by a passionate team.

Finalists in the Large Business category:

Apollo Tyres South Africa
Apollo Tyres South Africa (Pty) Limited, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apollo Tyres Ltd.  Located in South Africa, the core business of the company is the manufacture of Dunlop branded tyres and their distribution in South Africa and 32 other countries.  

Apollo Tyres South Africa makes quality tyres for every motoring application. Passenger vehicle tyres are manufactured in a high-tech production factory in Ladysmith, while truck-bus tyres are manufactured at a modern facility in Durban.

Dunlop tyres have been computer designed, engineered, constructed and rigorously tested to meet and exceed the most exacting international quality ratings, giving dealers and end-users the assurance that they are buying a tyre that delivers world-class standards of safety, handling and performance
                    
G.U.D. Holdings
G.U.D. Holdings (Pty) Ltd is a privately owned South African company that manufactures and markets products for leading automotive brands GUD Filters, FRAM Filters, Safeline Brake Pads and Indy Oil. G.U.D. Holdings also manufactures products for OE and export customers under their own brands.

With manufacturing facilities in KwaZulu-Natal, Johannesburg, Cape Town as well as Distribution Centres in Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Zambia they effortlessly meet the product demands of the automotive industry.

PFK Electronics
PFK Electronics is a leading electronics company focused on the design and manufacture of innovative electronics solutions. Driven by a culture of innovation, the company is supported by a strong research and development capability and state of the art production facility.

The company was established in Durban, South Africa in 1969, and has regional sales offices in Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, UK and Sweden, and supplies products to OEMs, the aftermarket, major fleet and freight companies, and the public transport sector.

PFK is certified with ISO/TS 16949, ISO 14001, FORD Q1, VDA-6, as well as OEM certified and is a first-tier supplier. 

Finalists in the Service Provider category:

Intraspeed              
Intraspeed is a dynamic and entrepreneurial logistics service provider.  Our core services are sea freight, air freight, clearing and lead logistics services.

The Intraspeed team shares a common vision of offering outstanding logistics solutions and our client service strategy differentiates us from competitors.   We have built up strategic partnerships over many years, and use our buying power to negotiate volume-based contracts with international air and sea carriers.  We do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach and offer multi-modal export and import logistic services to ensure the best possible solution for our clients.

Intraspeed's unrivalled footprint in Africa is a major competitive advantage.  Unlike most sea and air freight, clearing and logistics service providers, Intraspeed owns branches throughout Africa.  This offers our clients exceptional service delivery, efficiency and reliability.


Mediterranean Shipping Company
MSC has an innovative approach to shipping and has grown grow significantly over the last 20 years. Founded in 1970, MSC is the biggest user of the South African ports and the second biggest container carrier in the world, operating in excess of 420 container vessels.

MSC links South Africa directly with Europe, the UK, USA, Asia, Middle East, Far East and Australia, as well as Africa's West Coast, East Coast, the Indian Ocean Islands, Madagascar and Mozambique.

MSC's dramatic growth over the past decade is attributed to the quality management system that drives continuous improvement in service levels and flexibility in meeting the needs of clients and principals.
                     
Finalists in the Exports into Africa category:

Apollo Tyres
This is a second nomination for Apollo Tyres, which is also nominated in the Large Business category

Godrej Consumer Products                                                
Godrej Consumer Products is a global player in household and personal care products.  We are driven to enhance the quality of life of consumers by providing superior-quality and affordable products.  Based in India, our South African operation is located in Pinetown, where we manufacture several brands.

Inecto has been a major brand in the ethnic hair care market since 1947, and is the leading supplier of hair colour products in South Africa.  We aim to be the leaders in the hair colour market in Sub Saharan Africa, and Inecto is exported through Africa, from Sub-Saharan Africa, to as far north as Ethiopia and Nigeria, as well as to the Indian Ocean Islands.

G.U.D Holdings                                 
This is a second nomination for G.U.D. Holdings, which is also nominated in the Large Business category.


Note:  all information sourced from company websites or supplied by the finalists