It was a “ten out of ten for excellent service” over time that led Swazi Treated Timber Products (STTP) to take on Dolphin Bay as a CCA chemical supplier for its new treatment plant.
STTP is part of the TWK Agri group along with sister company SAWCO Mining Timbers, another Dolphin Bay client. Based just outside the town Nhlangano in the southern part of Swaziland, STTP already ran a creosote treatment plant and wanted to diversify its operations, to start treating eucalyptus harvested from its own plantations, with CCA.
When Dolphin Bay heard that the timber treater wanted to buy a treatment plant, we directed them to a fellow treater who had a plant to sell and facilitated the communication, ensuring that STTP paid a reasonable price for the plant.
Dolphin Bay provided the civils plans at no cost and STTP set up the plant. We installed a stainless steel bulk storage tank, had the plant painted and derusted, commissioned it, and trained the operators in August this year. The treatment plant is now fully operational.
The STTP management are “open, honest, sharp and technically minded businesspeople. Their plant is bound to be successful.”
“Mark Duckham of Dolphin Bay made a huge effort in accommodating me and linking me up with the client who was selling a plant. The whole Dolphin Bay engineering team advised us on which route to take and how to upgrade the plant,” said Martin van der Hyde, plant manager for SAWCO, of which STTP is a division.
“Dolphin Bay really walked the talk with us. The service has been excellent. I would give them ten out of ten.”
In 1991, a number of timber farmers established the TWK Agri group to market their timber. Since then it has grown into a large and diversified organisation. It owns and manages Forest Stewardship Council-certified plantations, strictly following sustainable forestry practices, and delivers products and services to the agriculture, forestry, grain, and other industries.
SAWCO is committed to strong business principles. Its motto is that it delivers “quality products in time, and in full,” said Martin.
Mark observed that the timber treatment industry in southern Africa is consolidating, and increasing numbers of customers are asking Dolphin Bay to upgrade their treatment plants as they seek to optimise their production and add as much value as possible. “It’s a sign of huge confidence in the future that companies are making these large investments.”
He added that Dolphin Bay is expecting “great things” from STTP in the future. “They have been very open and honest with us, run a really tight operation, and are sharp, technically-minded businesspeople. Their plant is bound to be successful, and we’re really looking forward to strengthening our relationship with them.”
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