Packaging specialist sets up new airport warehouse

Despite the hard-hitting global recession, some companies continue to expand. One such is a specialist packing company in Cape Town where employees face a very positive future. While most people have been tightening their belts and deploying staff, Cape Crating is currently fitting out a new warehouse at Airport City and has recently upped its staff to a total of 45, and its delivery vehicles to a fleet of nine. In an effort to deliver to every section of the market, Cape Crating recently opened a branch at Airport City. The new 450 m2 warehouse is specifically designed to minimise the lead-time for airfreight, and equipment is currently being installed. “The proximity to the airport obviously means better service, for our express type client,” says co-owner, Owen Bottomley. He adds that it’s hard to pin-point the reason for the company’s burgeoning business, however figures speak for themselves. “March was our second biggest month on record,” he says, “and the months ahead continue to look good. “We are definitely bucking the trend. We have added a Haz pack service and a crane truck to our list of services this year “We have several big projects running, have employed eight new staff this year, and have added more vehicles to our fleet. “Partly I think it’s while FCL loads are down there may be more LCL loads and these often require crating. “Also, in our economic hard times, people are shopping around much more and we are picking up some of this work.” The company has beefed up its sales and marketing department. “I am a firm believer that if you do a good job at a fair price, people will beat a path to your door,” says Bottomley. Turning 15 years next year, Cape Crating has seen its client base grow, packing anything from tourist curios to entire factories. “We basically turn our hands to anything but perishables,” explains Bottomley. “We offer a same-day service to our clients so they can bring in their cargo and have it packed and turned around the same day.”