Prefab containers attract growing customer base

The major shortage of steel containers has seen the prefab container product develop and grow in demand. According to Heiko Kesselmann, sales manager for Container World Namibia, the “build your own container” concept has become extremely popular as these are not only more readily available than steel containers but also more affordable. “The concept allows one to design a container for the client, meeting their specific needs,” Kesselmann told FTW. “Transport costs for prefab units are also much cheaper, as most units can be assembled on site. So for the space of one steel container you can transport four prefab units in a flat pack.” According to Kesselmann, trying to get hold of a steel container has become one of the biggest challenges in the industry. “The shortage makes it difficult to supply customer needs. Once you have a chance to buy them, most suppliers need advance payment before the unit even leaves the harbour in Europe and you don’t know in what condition the units are,” he said. “It can take up to three months before the unit has reached you, been emptied and customscleared. Only then can you can sell or rent it.” And with an everincreasing demand for containers it can become a difficult juggling act, he said. “Containers have become very popular for storage and housing due to the quick set-up and because they are easily movable. The uranium mines in the Namib are in particular need of containers.” According to Kesselmann, the demand for containers is not going to decrease in the near future either. “With the expansion of the Walvis Bay harbour and the developments in the mining industry, there will always be demand for containers. Also in the rural areas like the northern regions of Namibia, where more that 50% of the population is living, there will be increasing demand for containers, while emerging markets like Angola will continue to use Namibia as a source of containers as well.”