Fast growing Mannway Logistics has acquired two Melbourne based transport and logistics companies in a strategic move to form a new Mannway Intermodal Terminals (MIT) Victoria.
The acquisition of Footscray-based Dove Transport & Storage and Coolaroo-based RSP Transport, together with the existing Mannway resources at Dandenong and Port Melbourne will make up MIT Victoria Mannway’s third intermodal terminal in Australia.
Mannway has also purchased the 8.5 hectare Dove property at 444 Somerville Road, West Footscray.
Mannway already has a leading presence in intermodal logistics in NSW with facilities at Villawood, Newcastle and Port Kembla.
It is Mannway’s third major acquisition announced this year. In April the group purchased Port Kembla based steel carrier, Tex Transport, to further strengthen its services for major east coast clients.
MIT Victoria, based at two strategic sites in West Footscray and Port Melbourne, will boost Mannway’s Distribution Centre facilities and services in the industrial north and western suburbs of Melbourne. Both are within easy reach of the Port of Melbourne, Dynon rail yards and the Citylink freeway system.
The takeover will increase Mannway¹s turnover to $150 million, increase staff levels by around 120, add 18,000 m2 to the group’s warehousing inventory and increase the Mannway fleet to a total of 750 vehicles.
Specialists in dangerous goods storage and container cartage, Dove was formed in 1975 and occupies an 8.5 hectare site in Somerville Road, West Footscray, 15 minutes from Melbourne’s docks.
The site features an 18,000m2 warehouse and an 800 plus container park. All Dove’s 73 staff have been offered on-going employment with Mannway. Dove owner, Ian Sewell, has been appointed Divisional Manager, MIT Victoria with Glenn Dawson as Operations Manager.
Established in 1992, RSP Transport, is based in Maffra Street, Coolaroo and specialises in the transport, storage, pack/ unpack and distribution of containers for a broad range of customers.
Its fleet of 25 heavy-duty prime movers and 32 trailers is backed up by their fleet of forklifts and heavy duty reach trucks. RSP Director Ron Smith and his son Grant will join Mannway, along with all the RSP staff and the existing management team.
Both companies are strong in container cartage and storage – the move will enable Mannway to make rapid inroads into the container market with much of it to be based at the well located Graham Street, Port Melbourne site and Somerville Road, West Footscray.
Mannway Logistics Managing Director, and owner Stuart Brown says Mannway intends to use the purchase of this 18,000 m2 West Footscray site, together with Port Melbourne as our first intermodal terminal site in Victoria.
“Both sites offer excellent access to the docks, to rail and to Melbourne¹s freeway system,” he says.
“Parts of our business from Dandenong South would be better located there for added logistical efficiencies and we will examine all efficiencies available to benefit our clients.”
“We welcome all the people and new clients from both Dove and RSP. Their corporate values are similar to ours in that they are committed to excellence in customer service and offer high quality logistics services.”
“We are working hard to make sure the transition is both seamless and smooth,” Brown says.
The recent acquisitions follow Mannway¹s 2004/05 acquisition of Newcastle based steel specialist, Trueline Transport, BlueScope¹s Sydney logistics terminal operation at Villawood and an associated intermodal rail terminal operation in Newcastle.
A major player in the Australian logistics industry, Mannway, has a strong foothold in the three key industrial centres of Newcastle, Villawood and Port Kembla/ Wollongong to service two key steel sector clients, OneSteel and BlueScope and general industry in these areas.