High tech security specialist registers growth

Growing awareness of the need to safeguard valuable and vulnerable cargo is evident in the significant increase in volumes handled by Guardforce International, says manager business development Sandra Alexander. “There was definitely an increase in volumes,” she says, “and we believe it was due to clients experiencing more losses.” Guardforce International, a specialist security handling company for air cargo located within the perimeter of O R Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, operates from a high-tech, purpose-built facility and specialises in the monitoring, handling and safeguarding of valuable and vulnerable cargo arriving in or departing from the airport. “Opportunistic theft has increased due to the recession,” says Alexannder, “and criminal syndicates feeding a parallel economy have continued to flourish. The demand for stolen goods resold on the black market is huge and therefore there is great risk to cargo.” Alexander says it is important that companies which are still reluctant to spend money in safeguarding their cargo against theft, look at the benefits of specialised guarding. “We have taken a very visible and customer orientated approach in the market-place and, because the facility and service rendering is unique, Guardforce has the ability to tailor-make its services to fit the customer’s specific needs. We believe there is much potential for this kind of service and that we will grow our client base in 2011.”