Sixteen new locos out of Grindrod in Pretoria are destined for Bolloré Logistics in Cameroon, in Central Africa, and Côte d’Ivoire /Burkina Faso.

The GL30SCC-AC with increased adhesion and reduced maintenance (no brushes needed as on DC traction motors) is the latest addition to the series of main line locos produced by Grindrod. Six 700hp GS7S3M shunting locos are included for the Ivory Coast’s Sitarail.

Ordered in June 2015 the motive power procurement is worth R400-million. Grindrod has also secured in recent years locomotive deals the length and breadth of the African continent including Swaziland, Mozambican-based mining companies, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Congo Republic and Sierra Leone.

The growth in Grindrod Locomotives has seen its Pretoria West factory space expand to 30 000 m2. The factory is capable of producing 100 locomotives a year and at a cheaper cost than the long-established and well-known First World suppliers.