Almar sources overseas to meet used box demand

A SHORTAGE of used containers in South Africa as more and more containers are converted for various purposes other than freight carriage, is now forcing companies to purchase boxes overseas.
It's a problem we have encountered, and we anticipate the shortage will increase during 1998, says Chris van der Vyver, operational director of Almar Containers.
Van der Vyver, based in Johannesburg, and Almar Containers m.d. Alistair Forbes, who controls the activities from the Durban office, run what they term a recycling company in containers.
It's a concept which is becoming more accepted in South Africa, he says.
Second-hand containers bought from the shipping lines and container lessors can be ideally refurbished for use as offices, store rooms, clinics, classrooms, dormatories and even kitchen and ablution block units. We import from overseas as well as sourcing from locally based lines. Once cleared through customs they become a domestic container, and you will find many of them with very attractive interior finishes, even moving into the park home style situation.
Almar Containers opened for business on April 1 last year, with Van der Vyver and Forbes looking back on a collective 35 years of shipping experience. They now service sales in border countries such as Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique in addition to the growing South African market.