Portable containers fill refrigerated storage niche

ALAN PEAT THE STORAGE element in perishable products is the main target market for Cape-based Big Box Containers (previously known as Royal Wolf Trading), which supplies both 6-metre (20-foot) and 12-m (40-ft) refrigerated (reefer) marine containers for the storage of these products and chemicals. “It’s an area where a sudden boom in business can create all sorts of temporary storage problems,” said Margi Feldman. “There’s no way that the cost of a new, refrigerated storage building (cold room) can be justified when you have a short- to medium-term shortage of suitable storage space.” The same cost factor exists for full-time storage needs. “Once again,” said Feldman, “companies producing and storing perishable products, and the wholesalers and retail chains selling them, have to balance the cost of a permanent new refrigerated building with the margins they can obtain. “In almost every case, the much lower basic cost of our reefer units will provide them with a larger achievable margin – also with the often convenient element of complete portability.” When quality and freshness are vital and sensitive products need a constant temperature, these portable containers - built with high quality materials and lined with stainless steel - will resolve any storage problems, Feldman added. The containers operate at temperatures of between – 25C and +25C, and storage capacities range from 27 to 58-cubic metres. Units can be customised – with, for example, butcher’s door or partitioned for both frozen and chilled products.