Cabworld

CABWORLD

COMPANY PROFILE

2013

The mobile clinic that is ‘built for Africa’

Being able to be mobile is becoming more and more important for businesses. For some companies, transportation forms the core of their activities. Having the right transportation and the correct vehicles is vital to their operations.

Take the police or the ambulance services for example - without the correct transportation components, the functioning of these departments would become almost redundant.

What makes things a little more difficult, especially for companies that operate a fleet of vehicles, is that each vehicle will perform a dedicated task and each has a different use. This means that sometimes vehicles will have to be adapted or rebuild.

In a situation like this you need an experienced vehicle

body manufacturer and one of the industry leaders in this field, is Cabworld.

Cabworld has a wealth of experience in steel canopy building and vehicle body manufacturing. Working with large-scale organisations including government departments, parastatals, private and public businesses and individuals, Cabworld has built up a reputation which has seen the business expand exponentially.

Mpho Mahanyele chair’s the Board of Directors, handles all of the company’s marketing activities and she recently told IndustrySA about a very innovative project that Cabworld has been working on that could have the ability to help rural communities with healthcare problems.

“We have been working on a vehicle with Istrodent

COMPANY REPORt

Editorial – Roland DouglasProduction – John Cliff

PAGE 2 JUN 13

The mobile clinic that is ‘built for Africa’

IndustrySA speaks to Cabworld Marketing Director, Mpho Mahanyele to find out more about the company’s expansion plans and the fantastic work that has been going on recently with the development of a mobile clinic to serve rural areas.

and Samsung where solar energy is used to run a mobile clinic. We have converted a truck to contain three medical disciplines – dental, audio and ophthalmology. To date, this has been one of the most innovative products we have developed and manufactured.

“We divide the truck into three compartments and each compartment has its own entrance and examination area. People can actually get new spectacles on the same day of their examination, which renders this a highly practical service for rural and underserviced areas.”

The truck forms part of Samsung’s ‘Built for Africa’ campaign and can be labelled as Africa’s first solar powered mobile healthcare centre which can also be powered by a generator or an ordinary 220V power source. Samsung has also hinted that it could introduce a similar truck capable

of handling ultra-sound scans and for the delivery of babies.

The truck has reportedly cost Samsung around US$250,000 and will help the more remote areas of Africa to have access to effective health care services and in manufacturing the body, Cabworld had to consider various conditions in which the unit would operate.

“The design and development of the unit consisted of Cabworld employees, the medical equipment supplier and the customer concentrating meticulously on functionality, ergonomic lay-out and SABS standards.”

THRIVING BUSINESSCabworld’s core business involves specialised vehicles, custom built conversions and custom build canopy

CABWORLD

JUN 13 PAGE 3

COMPANY REPORt

PAGE 4 JUN 13

products for African markets. The expertise of the company makes it possible for Cabworld to cater for any new development in the motor industry and this flexibility has helped them going from strength to strength during the past decade.

“We started the business after buying the assets of a liquidated company at an auction 12 years ago and were fortunate to acquire the skills and know-how that belonged to the previous company.

“Cabworld’s core activity has been more or less the same as the previous company, but we have since widened the product range on offer significantly. Where we used to only do specific canopies, we have since extended to bus building, mobile banks, mobile clinics, ambulances, army and mortuary vehicles, to name a few. In some cases we also adapt the vehicles suspensions, in collaboration with the OEM’s, to make it more suitable for the conditions it operates in.

“Our current turnover is R64 million per annum and employ 148 dedicated people,” says Ms Mahanyele.

Even with the global economy going through tough times, Cabworld has managed to achieve continued growth by following an ambitious strategic plan lead by a dedicated management team.

“We will definitely expand physically with more factories, etc.” says Ms Mahanyele. “Our products are backed by an after sales service that includes training in the operation and maintenance of specialized conversions. After sales service and support is one of the most important components of our business.”

The company also offers an industry standard warranty to back and ensure good quality products.

GROWTHCabworld has many prominent customers based in South Africa and in several other African countries.

“Eskom, the Department of Health and also the Police are some of our key customers. Requests would be submitted to OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and they will sub-contract projects to us as the bodybuilders.”

Proven successful projects for companies that operate on such a large scale has helped Cabworld to stay on top of the competition – something which is increasing all the time.”

“There are a many of companies in South Africa that have mushroomed into the industry, but I think being different comes with the quality element. You need to have experts - it’s not just about offering a lower price, it’s about a combination of many factors which results in a quality and durable products,” says Ms Mahanyele. “Companies in Europe would for instance task us to build and deliver products into Africa - a situation not experienced by many body builders in SA.”continues on page 8 >

CABWORLD

JUN 13 PAGE 5

If special vehicle construction and equipment is your business – we are your partner. Talk to us for all mobile technology requirements you may have! Dometic and WAECO products have proven their worth in all kinds of special-purpose vehicles, including rescue and municipal vehicles, construction and agricultural machinery,

forestry trucks, refrigerated vehicles as well as in police and fire service fleets. Our expertise ranges from customised air conditioning systems through mobile refrigeration and power supply solutions to a vast and varied range of mobile kitchen appliances. As an international player we provide on-site support for your projects.

Mobile Climate SolutionsRoofmounted / Under Bench / Stationary

Mobile Power SolutionsGenerators / Battery Care / Charging Converters / Automatic Chargers

Sine Wave Inverters / Inverters / Voltage Converters

Dometic WAECO – your partner for mobile technology

Mobile Climate SolutionsRoofmounted / Under Bench / Stationary

Mobile Power SolutionsGenerators / Battery Care / Charging Converters / Automatic Chargers

Sine Wave Inverters / Inverters / Voltage Converters

Dometic WAECO – your partner for mobile technology

MOBILE SOLUTIONS

Cedric GindraMarketing & Sales Manager

+27 (82) 772 [email protected]

Leanne CornforthSales Representative

+27 (71) 889 0989 [email protected]

www.dometic-waeco.com

Mobile Comfort SolutionsReverse Camera & Monitor Systems / Awnings / Windows

Fridges / Hobs / Basins / toilets

Fortunately for Cabworld, the slowdown in the global economic climate has not been as hard hitting as for similar companies in SA.

“We were slightly affected by the tsunami in Japan,” says Ms Mahanyele. “It meant that we were seeing fewer vehicles come through from that part of the world.

“Apart from that, we are amazed at how well we’ve done despite the economic conditions in the country.”

The company’s success has been substantial enough to allow for the consideration of further expansion, not just in Africa, but globally.

“In the future we will definitely look at global expansion. We have relationships with international companies that are funding projects in Africa.

Until the day that Cabworld does venture into international markets, the company will keep up its activities in Africa with repeat business being the major objective.

“We have long standing and well established relationship with many African countries. We’ve delivered products to Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, The Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius. We are looking at firming up those relationships in order to ensure a strong market presence in Africa and not just South Africa.

“We don’t just want to get the odd order, we want continued business to compliment our penetrative

marketing strategy - looking to gain business from governments across Africa,” says Ms Mahanyele.

Achieving continued business in Africa will contribute to what is a successful and growing business and the company’s reputation of delivering quality service and value for money.

She concluded by saying that the company continued moving in the right direction and positive relationships is the main driver behind the progress.

“When we started this business it had a turnover of R12 million in the first year of operation and the fact that we are now doing R64 million per annum shows that we must have been doing something right and I think it’s the way we have built ethical relationships since launching the company.”.“In the future we will definitely look at global expansion. We have relationships with international companies that are funding projects in Africa”

COMPANY REPORt

PAGE 8 JUN 13

CABWORLD

JUN 13 PAGE 9

(0)1603 618 000

[email protected]

East Coast Promotions Ltd, Ferndale Business Centre, 1 Exeter Street.Norwich, NorfolkNR2 4QB

+27 12 546 6510

www.cabworld.co.za