Along with the news that Barloworld Transport Solutions has changed its name to Barloworld Transport comes the news that the company has acquired 80% of specialist transport company, Kumkani Heavy Haulage (Kumkani).
The strategic acquisition, following which Kumkani will be rebranded Manline Kumkani, will allow Barloworld Transport to provide a service offering in the abnormal transport and project cargo sector. Headquartered in Cape Town, Kumkani currently operates throughout southern Africa as far north as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Malawi.
Founder and managing director of Kumkani, Ryan Wall, will stay on in his current role bringing his technical knowledge and industry expertise to the Barloworld Transport Specialised Business Unit team.
“Kumkani has some of the most advanced heavy haulage equipment available worldwide that can safely and economically move any load,” says Wall. “This offering is enabled and supported by a well-trained and skilled operations team and we look forward to bringing these assets to complement the Barloworld Transport offering.”
Manline Kumkani operates in the Modular Abnormal Sector, generally moving loads of over 80 tons (or very long in length). It runs 80 Gold Hoffer modular axle lines, as well as 14 dedicated trucks that can be configured to move any load. The business will now form part of the Specialised Business Unit within Barloworld Transport – along with Manline Mega, Barloworld Cranes and Timber24.
Manline Mega specialises in abnormal loads and project cargo, moving anything up to 80 tons with its own fleet of 50 trucks. The unit plans to add another 20 trucks to this business over the next six months.
“There is dynamic growth ahead for Manline Kumkani, with plans afoot to expand the fleet over the next year,” says Andrew Nicholson, MD of the Specialised division of Barloworld Transport. “This initiative will be supported by the continued expansion of Manline Mega.”
“We are tremendously excited to be welcoming Ryan Wall and his team to the Barloworld Transport group. We feel that Manline Kumkani will compliment our business, adding to our service offering and specialised expertise,” adds Neil Henderson, CEO of Barloworld Transport.
