ZacPak, the warehousing component of neutral consolidator, SACO CFR, officially opened its new world-class 42 000 square-meter facility – a cutting-edge warehouse from which it has already started servicing import and export cargo moving through the Port of Durban.
Group CEO Dave Graham said ZacPak, a wholly owned subsidiary of the group, had outgrown its former premises just 1.2 kilometre from the newly built container freight station (CFS).
Construction for the facility broke ground within the new Clairwood Logistics Park in Mobeni in July last year.
ZacPak specialises in the consolidation and deconsolidation of cargo, providing freight owners with state-of-the-art security and the ability to trace cargo across the logistics supply chain.
It took the company a week to move premises to open on June 1 after construction was completed on schedule.
“We had been in our former facility for ten years and it was time for an upgrade,” Graham said.
“Our previous facility had a total footprint of 39 000 squares and the warehouse was 4.5 meters high. Our new premises totals 42 000 squares, but the warehouse is 13.5 meters high, allowing for vertical growth in terms of cargo storage capacity.”
In addition, ZacPak has acquired the use of new material handling equipment to accommodate the increased height requirements.
“We have invested in two new straddle carriers for the facility and are fully operational here now,” Graham said.
“It’s a secure business park with security at the entrances. We have also invested in our own security here and have 108 cameras on site. We have made sure of security both in terms of cargo integrity and staff safety.”
Highlighting the current trends in the sector, he said there had been an influx of warehousing capacity recently after massive demand last year.
“This is due to a couple of factors – consumer confidence and spending are down and at the same time capacity is increasing due to large vessels coming into global service with a number of lines that placed orders two or three years ago.
“So globally we’re seeing 24 000 TEU-size ULCVs (ultra-large container vessels) coming into service in a market that is already saturated with available capacity and decreased consumer spending,” he said.
“But this also creates additional demand for LCL solutions, as forwarders often struggle to fill FCL containers.”
“At the moment warehouses and inventories are generally full but most in the industry who we are speaking to anticipate an increase in demand post-Chinese New Year in 2024.”
ZacPak is also busy building a new 25 000 square facility with a 5000 square warehouse in Port Elizabeth (Gqberha).
The anticipated occupation date is early September.
