Schmitz Cargobull, the European market leader in the trailer sector, has acquired 33 percent of the shares in South African trailer manufacturer, GRW Holdings, a leading manufacturer of tankers and trailers in South Africa.
“Within the terms of our ongoing diversification within the African continent, South Africa represents a highly attractive market for us. The economy in South Africa is recovering and continuing to grow. That bodes well for a long-term business relationship between GRW and Schmitz Cargobull which is to the advantage of both parties,” says Andreas Schmitz, Chairman of the Board of Schmitz Cargobull AG, about this new venture.
Since March 2016 GRW and Schmitz Cargobull have been collaborating in the areas of the development and construction of new refrigerated semi-trailers and box bodies for the South African market. These will now also be supplied with the Schmitz Cargobull transport refrigeration unit and a comprehensive telematics system.
“Through the partnership with Schmitz Cargobull we anticipate significant synergies thanks to the latest German technology in the refrigerated semi-trailer construction sector. It is our philosophy to offer the best that is available in the market,” emphasizes Gerhard van der Merwe. “We therefore turned to Schmitz Cargobull, because, in our opinion, they produce the best refrigerated semi-trailers in the world. This approach makes us perfect partners.”
GRW, located in Worcester, South Africa, is a leading manufacturer of transport equipment, innovative tankers and trailers and is also a provider of various types of services. GRW was founded in 1996 by Gerhard van der Merwe, Wentzel van der Merwe and Rossouw van Eeden. The company originally manufactured tankers. However, since six years ago a diverse range has been developed for various markets and applications. Flexibility and agility are needed in order to remain competitive: therefore, the company introduced the design and manufacture of refrigerated box bodies and chassis, platform semi-trailers and curtainside trailers into its program.
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