Crate Factory sees turnover
treble month on month
RAY SMUTS
MINE WAS a stupid question - what do you do? - for sales and marketing executive Terrence Byrne readily admits the Crate Factory does just that - manufacturing wooden crates for a wide variety of uses.
Established five months ago, one of the smaller manufacturing players in the Cape Peninsula, the Paarden Island company is nevertheless not doing too badly. Byrne estimates turnover has trebled each month since start-up.
The Crate Factory is run pretty much as would a tailor or undertaker in that it receives specific measurements from clients which include a number of Cape Town clearing and forwarding agents.
Products on offer, mainly in pine which Byrne suggests is not only freely available but more cost-effective, include solid, hardboard and skeleton boxes (merely the frame).
The staff complement of five manufactures crates for diverse items such as pianos, furniture, mechanical equipment, valuable paintings, artifacts and curios for export to the UK, US, Europe and Australia.
“Australia, New Zealand and Canada require timber to be treated for insects and it will probably become a global requirement by the end of the year,” adds Byrne.
“We have managed our growth carefully to ensure we are able to deliver the goods at the right time rather than overextend ourselves and I am happy to say we have not had a single complaint from any of our hundreds of customers.”
The Crate Factory caters to all sectors; sea, air and roadfreight, but it is the sea component that holds the commanding position with 65% input. They also provide a crating service for Johannesburg-based companies with branches in the Western Cape.
