Cutting corners on packaging can be a costly exercise

Look for expertise and track record JOY ORLEK PENNY WISE pound foolish was never more apt than when applied to cargo packaging. And specialist Johannesburg-based company Mitchell Packers knows full well the costly implications of ill-advised decisions. It has been called in all too often to pick up the pieces for exporters who have tried unsuccessfully to cut corners. The company provides consultancy as well as practical expertise country-wide, and with the growth in exports from the Eastern Cape, it’s a region of growing potential, says marketing executive Deirdre Mitchell. “If you don’t do it properly first time round, the fall-out can be extreme,” she explained. “We recently had a client who chose not to secure or package an expensive piece of machinery moving by sea. As the vessel left Richards Bay the machinery started falling apart and the exporter was forced to pay not only the $1-m for the ship to dock in Cape Town but also the costs of packaging and re-loading. “The client ended up with exorbitant additional costs that could have been saved had he got the fundamentals right first time round,” said Mitchell. Beginning with an on-site inspection, the company will advise the customer on the appropriate mode – crate, box, container or breakbulk. “It’s crucial to use a reputable packer, and not a glorified pallet or box-maker,” says Mitchell, who advises exporters to look for experience and track record.