The caped cruise-aiders

Family run South African coach company Intercape has been undergoing a transformation. Gay Sutton discovers from Arend de Waal, Wynand Van Nieuwenhuizen and Corne De Waal how the company has been introducing innovative new services and practices.

The distances across southern Africa are vast, the scenery stunning and the mountain roads challenging, yet previously gruelling long distance journeys can now be achieved in luxurious comfort. Today’s traveller can board a luxury double-decker coach in Namibia, for example, and travel overnight in a spacious reclining seat, surrounded by all the comforts usually associated with business class air travel. There are none of the tedious hours of waiting at airline terminals, baggage doesn’t go mysteriously missing, pick-up and drop-off points are in city centres and you arrive refreshed.

From cradle to grave
Transcending the generation gap to appeal to all age groups is one of the factors that underpins the success of Green Cross Manufacturing, South AfricaÔÇÖs largest privately owned footwear manufacturer. CEO Hatti Zeppel talked to Jayne Flannery.

A breath of fresh air
GEA Air Treatment is a global industry leader in the air conditioning market. Vincent Kielty learns how technology, sustainability initiatives and a true understanding of customer expectations keeps GEA at the forefront of its industry.

Catalyst for change        
While recessions are inevitably painful, they can also provide the opportunity for a much needed re-evaluation of company strategy, as Alan Swaby learns.
When you can claim to be as competitive as any manufacturer anywhere in the world, then you know you must be doing something right. And when the quality of output is sufficient to keep the best names in the automotive business happy, then you know you must be doing everything right.

Investing with confidence
While the recession has brought many building projects to a standstill, one South African organisation is seeing no good reason to put investment on hold, as Jeff Daniels learns.

ThatÔÇÖs the spirit
Bangalore-based Amrut Distilleries produces one of the finest single malt whiskies in the world, and has ambitious plans for expansion, as Rakshit Jagdale explains to Gay Sutton.

Beating a path to Yerevan
Until recently, Armenia was not exactly on the tourist trail; now, it has found political stability and is ready to welcome an influx of travellers on business and pleasure into Zvartnots International Airport, the countryÔÇÖs safest and most modern building. John OÔÇÖHanlon talked to Marcelo Wende, managing director of its operator and developer Armenian International Airports (AIA).

Packing in the power
Marco Fregonese, marketing manager of Trasfor SA, spoke to Jayne Flannery about making an impact in the fast-growing world of electro-magnetic componentry.
For over 40 years Trasfor SA, based in Lugano, Switzerland, has been nurturing its reputation in the design and manufacture of custom built dry type transformers and inductors. ÔÇ£The length of time we have been operating in this industry and our subsequent expertise is something that very much sets us apart in this marketplace,ÔÇØ said Marco Fregonese, marketing manager.

Keeping your powder dry

Sunspray Food Ingredients (Pty) Ltd is South Africa’s largest independent manufacturer of spray dried ingredients, a key component of many of the foods and beverages we take for granted. Doing well despite the downturn, it is set to grow fast, as CEO David Watson explained to John O’Hanlon.

Making the grade
Okorusu fluorspar mine in Namibia has weathered all the knocks that life has thrown at it, including the dumping of cheap Chinese products on the western market. Gay Sutton finds out from Mark Dawe how the company has risen to the challenges.