The partnership between Isanti Glass and Unitrans has been recognised at the 2025 Africa Supply Chain Excellence Awards (ASCEA), where Unitrans received top honours in the Inventory, Warehousing and Distribution Management category for its collaboration with Isanti Glass.
From left to right: Vorster Stone – General Manager (Unitrans); Shirish Sukdeo – Chief Operations Executive (Isanti Glass); Ralph Molepo – Logistics Manager (Isanti Glass); Carli Venter – Head: Marketing and Sales Enablement (Unitrans); Nissa Badrudin – Group Business Development Specialist (Unitrans); Melissa Brooke – IT Manager (Unitrans); Hugo Burger – WMS Specialist (Unitrans); Edmé Brink – Marketing Manager (Unitrans); Warren van Wyk – Head: Human Capital Operations (Unitrans); Liesel Dentlinger – Executive: Human Capital (Unitrans)
The award highlights the power of partnership in reimagining supply chain systems to deliver measurable results, resilience, and scalability within South Africa’s manufacturing sector.
Transforming operational efficiency through partnership
When the partnership was established in 2021, Isanti Glass faced a series of warehousing and distribution challenges, from stock inaccuracies and limited traceability to lengthy stock takes and inconsistent delivery performance. Together, the two companies co-created a customised warehousing and logistics model, underpinned by innovation, transparency, and data-driven decision-making.
“At Isanti Glass, we are intentional about partnering with organisations that share our vision of continuous improvement and sustainable growth,” said Shirish Sukdeo, Chief Operations Executive at Isanti Glass. “Our collaboration with Unitrans has fundamentally reshaped our supply chain operations - driving visibility, efficiency, and customer reliability.”
Innovation delivering measurable impact
Central to the transformation was the introduction of a Warehouse Management System (WMS) and real-time barcode scanning, improving accuracy and turnaround times across Isanti Glass’s operations.
Key achievements of the partnership include:
- Over 85% improvement in inventory accuracy
- Stock take duration reduced from four days to two
- On-Time, In-Full (OTIF) delivery performance improved from below 80% to a consistent 97%
Further enhancements such as geo-fencing, route optimisation, and a pre-staging process reduced idle fleet time, while reconfigured warehouse layouts and enhanced safety standards have improved operational readiness and reduced incidents by 25% year-on-year.
A model for collaborative growth
The success of the Isanti-Unitrans partnership is built on mutual trust and shared purpose.
“This recognition validates what we’ve achieved together, proving that when operations and logistics work hand-in-hand, the result is not only efficiency, but long-term business sustainability,” said Ronel Cara, Executive: Sales and Marketing at Isanti Glass.
Echoing this sentiment, Edwin Hewitt, CEO of Unitrans, noted, “Our partnership with Isanti Glass exemplifies the Unitrans commitment to making growth happen; transforming supply chains into strategic enablers of business success.”
Driving transformation in South African manufacturing
For Isanti Glass, the collaboration represents more than operational excellence, it reflects a commitment to building an agile, localised manufacturing ecosystem. As a proudly South African, Level 1 B-BBEE company, Isanti Glass continues to invest in partnerships that enhance industrial competitiveness, create jobs, and strengthen local value chains.
“Our success with Unitrans demonstrates what is possible when purpose-led collaboration meets operational excellence,” added Pieter du Plessis, CEO of Isanti Glass. “Together, we are shaping a more efficient and resilient future for African manufacturing.”
