CT facility saves costs thanks to proximity to terminal

C ape Town-based Edgin Logistic Solutions recently opened new covered storage facilities at Culemborg adding 6 600m2 to its warehousing portfolio. “Situated within 2km of the container terminal, this new warehouse is ideally suited to the stuffing and de-stuffing of containers and will be kept solely for the storage and handling of clean, dust-free cargoes,” company director Dave Johnson told FTW. “It is our ability to utilise dedicated warehouse spaces for different cargoes that allows Edgin to handle and store just about everything – from large bulk shipments of fertiliser or grains to smaller containerised shipments of specialised commodities or products.” Focusing on the provision of a variety of logistical and warehousing solutions, custom-made to suit each individual client’s needs, the company was founded in 2004. “We realised that there was a need for a logistics provider that served the client’s needs in a cost-effective, professional manner on a 24-hour basis,” says Johnson. Since then the company has made great strides. And for Johnson and his team there is much promise in 2009. “While everyone in the industry is hurting because of the current slump in commodity movement, we know that the market can’t remain this way and will improve. Rather than sit around lamenting the slowdown, we busy ourselves planning for the upswing,” he says. There are many challenges already in this industry, says Johnson, with the biggest being the ability to deliver on promises in a logistical chain over which you have no practical control. “The long queues and waiting times at the ports and empty container depots continue to plague the whole industry. We combat this by extending our full storage yard hours.” The company operates from 06:00 to 22:00 Monday to Friday, 07:00 to 16:30 on Saturdays, and on Sundays based on demand. “In this way our clients can take advantage of quiet periods at the depots and container terminals.” Being close to the port is a big advantage, in Johnson’s view. “With 24 000m2 of covered warehousing in Cape Town, and a 6 500m2 container yard conveniently situated at Culemborg, 1km from the Port of Cape Town with easy access to the N1 and N2, we can effectively see our clients’ transport costs reduced.”