High-security warehouse opens adjacent to Ortia

LAST THURSDAY saw the official opening of Safcor Panalpina’s state-of-the-art logistics facility adjacent to OR Tambo International Airport. Promising substantial savings in supply chain costs through a faster flow of traffic than conventional warehouses, the 10 500m2 facility will enable the company to handle 3-4 times the volume of cargo that was previously possible,” MD Pete Williams told FTW. “It marks another significant milestone in our objective of providing seamless supply chain solutions,” Williams added. But recognising that supply chain means different things to different people, one of the challenges is to ensure that the company can adapt and accommodate different needs – which the new facility is able to support, he said. With a blue chip base of multinational clients, Safcor Panalpina works closely with global partner Panalpina World Transport Group. “We have to dovetail our solutions to those offered by Panalpina while adapting to the South African environment,” said Williams. “The streamlining of our processes called for a facility in close proximity to Ortia with extremely tight security, a degroup bonded warehouse and ultimately a shortened lead time. Our speed of handling has improved by 20% from arrival to delivery which, in real time terms, translates to half a day. For high tech, high value items, this means the one who gets the shipment first gets the business.” The facility also represents a substantial investment in security, from 350 surveillance cameras to armed and covert surveillance. “Safcor Panalpina is TAPA “A” accredited which is the highest level of security and we work very closely with our overseas counterparts in a global effort to combat theft,” said Williams.