Key Group Expands KwaZulu-Natal Support Footprint
A brand-new Isuzu truck service and parts centre recently opened its doors in Durban South.
The centre will support three distinct commercial vehicle brands - Key Durban Truck Service Centre: the servicing and supply of parts for Isuzu trucks, Key Vehicle Management (KVM) which includes Key Hire, Key Smart Buy (Hire vehicle disposal outlet). Isuzu Motors South Africa's consolidation of its truck and light commercial business earlier this year, accelerated the Key Group's decision to establish a new service presence in the Durban market.
Paul Emanuel, Key Group Chairman said,
"A new commercial vehicle service centre is not a choice made in isolation - it is a carefully pondered decision derived from strategic thinking over ten years. Instead of doubling up in the West at Pinetown, it made more strategic sense to bring support services to the market growth points - namely Durban South and Prospecton, from the Umgeni industrial area to Amanzimtoti."
This new Isuzu commercial centre is just off both the M4 and N2 highways, adjacent to the massive Clairwood Logistics Park which, at 358 000m2, is Fortress REIT Ltd.'s biggest national investment in industrial logistics property.
The Durban-Pinetown industrial region, stretching to the boundaries of eThekwini municipality, represents the second largest truck market after Gauteng in Southern Africa. Added to this there are over 50 000 Isuzu trucks on South Africa's roads nationwide - with many travelling in and out of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) where Durban is the end of the logistical corridor.
From an aftermarket perspective the real market interest lies in the one to ten-year market of which there are just over 5 000 Isuzu trucks to be serviced in KZN.
The Key Durban Truck Centre offers the following:
- A workshop with six bays and a monthly 1 500 labour-hour capacity. Each bay is 17m in length to cater for two trucks in the same bay, depending on truck configuration.
- A fully stocked Isuzu truck parts department
- A-grade space for KVM and Key Hire - now one of the largest KZN Isuzu fleet owners with 400 units under contract management and hire. This facility will cater for the service and repairs not only of the Isuzu franchise brands but all brands under our KVM umbrella. This offers any fleet owner that operates multiple vehicle brands in their fleet a one-stop service provider.
The best environmental care
The new site has the latest equipment installed from an environmental aspect. This ranges from a covered ultra-modern wash-bay, grease traps and water storage with recycling to highly energy-efficient LED lights fitted at the facility. Full workshop cleaning equipment has been installed and will be utilised daily to keep not only the workshop but the entire facility clean.
Further enhancing reduced environmental impact and increasing labour-hour potential:
- Retractable oil reels have been installed at lubricant stations to prevent technicians from tripping over hoses and avoid product spill. In addition, drip-trays will also prevent oil spills.
- Oil and coolant control handles have non-drip nozzles.
- An oil management system precisely controls dispensing new oil and coolant into the vehicles and to prevent product losses. This assists with the re-ordering process.
- Pit and truck drainers collect used oil and coolant. Waste oil and coolant pumps have been installed to suck out waste products from drainers into tanks which are removed for recycling. A high-level alarm on the used oil and tanks prevent the tanks from overflowing.
- Coping with Durban storms is a challenge. Extra drainage systems have been incorporated into the entrance to workshop bays, yard and gutter systems fitted to the underside of all workshop doors. A gutter system has also been installed onto the neighbour's warehouse on the north side which borders the vehicle yard to reduce storm water filtering onto the Isuzu facility.
- Waste streaming containers and systems are in line with the latest Waste Act requirements.
People and customers rank #1
Key Durban Truck Centre makes this Key Group facility a very attractive place to work. The working areas are all under cover while LED energy saving lights have been installed across the entire facility, from workshops to offices and external lighting.
- A driver rest room has been catered for, including a shower, rest facilities and a comfortable waiting area with refreshments.
- A full suite of facilities caters for the well-being of all Key employees ranging from a kitchenette, canteen, storage facilities, showers, laundry facilities for technicians' overalls and parking.
Emanuel concludes:
"This new workshop has been built around Isuzu Motors South Africa's global standards and systems, but more importantly, local requirements have also been accounted for. It's not only the building and property, but our investment includes special tools, lubrication systems, storage and software systems exceeding R2-million. We are keenly aware of reducing vehicle downtime and parts supply is a focus area."
"We will offer excellent service,"
said Emanuel.
