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.”