AMCOTTS TRADING OPENED THEIR NEW SHOWROOM, BONDED WAREHOUSE, WORKSHOPS, AND OFFICES IN MSASA IN APRIL THIS YEAR. IT’S INCORPORATED IN A HUGE WAREHOUSE, WITH A DISTINCTIVE SAW-TOOTHED ROOF, SET ON THE CORNER OF ANTHONY AVE AND MARTIN DRIVE. THE BUILDING WAS ORIGINALLY OPENED IN 1981 BY THE THEN MINISTER OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE, KUMBIRAI KANGAI, AND STILL HAS A COMMEMORATIVE GRANITE PLAQUE AT THE ENTRANCE. IT’S CONVENIENTLY ADJACENT TO THEIR HEAD OFFICES AT 30 ANTHONY AVE SO WHEN THE BUILDING BECAME AVAILABLE FOR SALE IT WAS A NATURAL DECISION TO SNAP IT UP TO EXPAND THEIR EXISTING PREMISES. THEY STILL HAVE THEIR OLDER, ORIGINAL BRANCH AT 118 SIMON MAZARODZE ROAD IN SOUTHERTON, ALTHOUGH THE NEW MSASA BRANCH IS MUCH BIGGER AND MORE CONVENIENT FOR CUSTOMERS. IT’S ALSO MUCH BETTER FOR AMCOTTS TO INCORPORATE MOST OF THEIR BUSINESS ENTERPRISES IN A SINGLE LOCATION.
Amcotts was founded in 2000. They have over 20 years experience in the business of tyre – and later – truck distribution. Initially,they focused on the importation and distribution of well-tiren tyre brands like Bridgestone and Firestone, as well as Nexen, Sailun, Maxam, Wideway, and Constancy. In addition, Amcotts has sold the Hanksugi brand of tyres for over a decade to major transport companies across theSouthern Africa region. Amcotts supplies specialised heavy-duty tyres for the transport, mining and agricultural industries, while their sister company Rossi Tyres offfers tyres, fifitment, balancing and alignment, suspension and brake services and batteries for smaller commercial or private vehicles. In 2017 Amcotts diversified to start selling Shacman and XCMG (Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group). To date they’ve sold over 500 units of trucks and equipment.
The Shacman brand includes cargo trucks, dump trucks, tipper trucks and tractor trucks, cement mixer trucks and crane trucks. All Shacman trucks come with a two-year warranty. The XCMG brand includes equipment for the construction and mining industries including earth moving The warehouse has had a number of tenants over the years – most recently, before Amcotts purchased the property – it was occupied by BenBar Tromps Engineering. After being derelict for a while the exterior of the building had become a little run down but Amcotts has given the structure a major makeover with a fresh coat of paint on the exterior and new eye-catching bright red branding and signage supplied by Compusign. If you’re driving along Martin Drive, it’s unmissable and helps to boost Amcotts’ corporate image.
They’ve also created a large paved parking area in front separated from the main road by Clearview fencing as well as the secure bonded warehouse for their trucks. It’s given the whole area a much needed facelift. machinery like graders, excavators and front end loaders, mining machinery, hoisting machinery, cement mixers and equipment for road construction.
While Amcotts has a good supply of stock at their Msasa branch they also have extensive catalogues that prospective customers can order from. Amcotts deals directly with the manufacturers so there are no middle men involved. In this way they keep prices down and ensure quicker delivery times. In addition to supplying trucks and equipment they stock a full range of spares and genuine parts and their experienced and well trained staff can assist with repairs and maintenance.
Internally the structure was still fairly sound with a high roof and extensive glass panels in the saw-tooth structure allowing natural light into the vast interior space which is around 2000 sq m. Amcotts has added an additional mezzanine floor over part of the warehouse creating around 1000 sq m of storage space. The mezzanine floor was built by Grid Transmission – a steel structure tied to existing concrete pillars keeping the ground flour relatively clear. It has a carrying capacity of 600 kg per sq m to cater for the weight of the tyres stored above.
Currently it’s accessed by two steel staircases although a conveyor belt system is soon to be installed. Big roller shutter doors provide access for receiving and despatch and can accommodate vehicles up to 30 tonnes. Amcotts will also deliver larger orders for customers if needed and have their own fleet of delivery vehicles for customers’ convenience. They frequently despatch larger orders to other retailers across the country.
There are 10 offices spread over two floors mostly at the front of the building. Amcotts has installed new, larger aluminium window frames so the ofices are lighter and brighter the ground flfloor there’s also a spacious boardroom and the sales and reception areas. All the offices have been given a new coat of paint and new floor tiles to give a fresher, cleaner look. Amcotts plans to open new branches in Bulawayo and Mutare in the near future. To contact Amcotts in Harare:
Call 0772 471 299
Visit: 30 Anthony
Avenue, Msasa or
118 Simon Mazarodze
Road, Southerton
966 Pomona Industrial Park, Harare
text by Michael Nott
photos by Fotohaus
