Container World targets specialist container niche

ALAN PEAT
THERE IS a promising niche market that container supply and conversion major Container World is determined to fill, according to executive director, Barron Charsley. This is the sale and supply of specialised cargo containers, he told FTW, varying from open tops and flat racks to tank containers, bolsters and out-of-gauge containers. In the last category, Container World’s conversion expertise comes into play, with the company able to take a standard container and alter the dimensions within certain technical parameters to take extra-long or extra–wide cargoes. “We are focusing on growing this sector,” said Charsley. “Although it currently contributes only about
10% of our overall business, we feel it’s a worthwhile niche – with all these containers being high-value units. “And, with Container World being a major supplier in SA, we feel that we are in the best position to successfully challenge the growing local demand for these specialised units.” Also, Container World’s long-established relationships with the world’s main container suppliers – particularly in Europe – give it a big advantage in terms of delivery-timing for large volume orders, he said. “Although we keep a small volume of these specialised containers in stock to fulfil urgent orders", Charsley added, “we can still source larger numbers of units for customers within a six-week lead time.” Two of the company’s latest orders display just how busy the growth is in this specialised sector, according to sales executive, Richard Adinall. Container World has just supplied an order for thirteen 12-metre and two 6-m open top containers to transport a 220-ton conveyor system from Bosworth Engineering
in Alrode to a mining operation in Tanzania – with the project cargo forwarding contract handled by HK Shipping. “This allowed them to transport the entire system – from idlers and frame to electric and mechanical drive motors and the actual conveyor belting – in one consignment,” said Adinall. Another was the export from Rosherville Engineering of an order for 3.5-m diameter electric stator motors from a client in Tanzania. “This required four 12-m open top containers.”