Women-owned logistics company successfully manages complex mechanical press exports to India

South African women-owned logistics company Women in Shipping & Transport Services (WISTS) has successfully coordinated three shipments of dismantled mechanical press equipment from two automotive manufacturing plants in Gauteng to India.

The complex project followed the sale of the plants in Pretoria and Hammanskraal to an international buyer. Once the equipment had been dismantled for export, WISTS was appointed to manage the specialised logistics required to transport the machinery from South Africa to the Port of Mundra, with Pune as its final destination.

Most of the mechanical press components were classified as out-of-gauge cargo and transported on flat racks, with individual pieces weighing between 30 and 37 tonnes. Three shipments have arrived within the planned timeframes. The final two shipments, scheduled for October 2026, will involve a further 14 flat racks and the project's largest component, weighing approximately 80 tonnes.

Five months of planning behind the movement

Planning and quoting began approximately five months before the first shipment. Every stage needed to align with vessel schedules, terminal stack dates, equipment availability and South Africa's regulations governing abnormal-load transportation.

Out-of-gauge cargo may only travel during approved weekday daylight hours and is restricted from travelling after 17:00 or over weekends. WISTS coordinated loading, transport permits, temporary storage in Durban, lashing inspections, shipping-line approval and terminal delivery within tightly controlled timeframes.

WISTS acted as project manager throughout the operation, coordinating shipping-line bookings, flat-rack delivery, abnormal-load transport, permits, storage, packing and lashing, customs clearance, certificates of origin and export documentation. The company maintained continuous communication with the client's representative, drivers, transporters, depots, specialist teams, shipping lines and port stakeholders.

Experience enables a rapid response

During one phase, a container was found to be overweight because of a problem with the client's weighing scale. WISTS immediately redirected it to a depot and placed a specialist lashing team on standby. The team removed one component, transferred it into another container and correctly repacked and relashed both units.

The quick intervention helped prevent disruption to the broader shipment and kept additional costs to a minimum.

Before establishing WISTS, Dheshree Chetty headed the project and special-equipment division at international shipping line Hapag-Lloyd. This experience has given her an in-depth understanding of out-of-gauge shipments, specialised equipment and shipping-line approval processes.

“Every permit, packing requirement, lashing certificate, road restriction, vessel schedule and terminal deadline affects the next stage of the movement.”

Precision is essential

Unlike standard containers, flat racks do not have fixed sides or a roof, allowing machinery that exceeds conventional dimensions to be accommodated. Transporting mechanical press equipment requires precise weight distribution, suitable dunnage, specialist lashing, protection against movement and exposure, and approved certification.

For this project, components were power wrapped and secured by specialist teams. Trucks were tracked throughout the road movement, packing was carefully scheduled and Goods in Transit insurance was confirmed.

Capability should define opportunity

Completing a project of this scale is a significant achievement for a business that had been operating for only 18 months when it was appointed. For Chetty, the project also sends an important message about the technical capability of women working in shipping and logistics.

The mechanical press project demonstrates WISTS' ability to coordinate multiple service providers, manage operational risk and respond proactively while maintaining personal communication throughout a complex international cargo movement.

About WISTS

Women in Shipping & Transport Services is a South African logistics company delivering holistic, client-specific solutions across international freight forwarding, customs clearance, warehousing and distribution, project cargo and heavy-lift logistics, import and export logistics, and end-to-end supply chain solutions.

Backed by more than 30 years of industry expertise, WISTS combines personal attention, professional logistics and purposeful progress to make complex supply chains easier to manage.