Crane rental and heavy lifting solutions provider Sarens Siba has changed its business model from a centralised location to a depot-based structure in an effort to better reflect the changing landscape of the post-pandemic era. Sarens Siba is the global leader and industry reference in crane rental services, heavy lifting and engineered transport.

Sarens Siba Depot Manager for Renewables and Special Projects Christo van der Merwe says that new developments and the changing markets in the heavy lifting industry necessitated the change.

“We decided that rather than offering our customers certain services simply because we have that specific equipment available, we would rather redevelop our offering into a depot-based structure in strategic locations that offer the exact services that clients require,” explains Van der Merwe.

During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, government regulations introduced new restrictions and challenges to the South African economy. Sarens took the opportunity to re-examine its traditional business model and expedite its transition towards “the new normal”, which required an urgent imperative to adapt to the changing business landscape.

What became clear during this review was that the company’s existing business model of having all machines and manpower based in a centralised location, was not optimal. A depot-based structure was proposed, with designated depots being identified in key locations including Sasolburg, in the Free State; Secunda and Witbank, in Mpumalanga; Rustenburg, in the North West; and Bellville, in the Western Cape. Each of the depots will have its own dedicated equipment and manpower for management, sales, supervision and maintenance.

“The depots are located on the clients’ door-step, to ensure a quicker reaction time and improved, cost-effective customer service, with dedicated staff on hand to assist clients in solving any problems and finding engineered solutions,” says Van der Merwe.

Each depot location has its set pieces of equipment according to the requirements of that area and client needs, but if a change is required, this can be easily adjusted. “It is imperative that large organisations remain flexible in order to adapt to ever-changing market forces,” he notes.

The Cape Town-based depot specifically focuses on non-conventional lifting solutions, including jacking operations, load cells for weighing operations  and transport operations. “We have multi axle modular trailers, and self-propelled modular transporters specifically for the project market in Cape Town,” Van der Merwe reveals.

Sarens’ state-of-the-art equipment and value engineering offers its clients creative and intelligent solutions to any heavy lifting and engineered transport challenges.

Sarens’ new depot structure has received  excellent feedback from its client base, with very positive reviews of the improved organisational structure. This new business model has also allowed Sarens Siba to cost-effectively service a much broader geographical client base.

Sarens is now also able to understand clients’ needs and provide more efficient and effective assistance with engineered solutions using its in-house engineering team, adding client and operational value and efficiencies by finding alternative methods and solutions while moving away from traditional basic crane lifting.

As a global brand, Sarens consistently strives to ensure that all its operations and projects are aligned with the company’s global ISO certifications for safety (ISO 45000), environment (ISO 14000) and quality (ISO 9001).

Sarens Siba is a level 3 broad-based black economic empowerment company and continues to grow and flourish across Southern Africa, with successful branches in Mozambique, Zambia and Botswana that service cross-border clients as well as South African clients executing cross-border projects.

Sarens proudly stands by its motto: “Nothing too heavy, Nothing too high”.

www.sarens-siba.com