Customs’-licensed depot operator ZacPak Group commenced construction of its newly designed, highly secure, 40 000-square-metre warehouse to service import and export cargo moving in and out of the Durban port last week.
ZacPak Group managing director Willie Nel said the firm had invested heavily in developing the new South Durban Basin facility to industry specifications, to provide customers with a high-tech, streamlined service.
“Being a new build warehouse, we were able to table the best-suited design for our business needs. The facility has a grand 40 000-sqm footprint, with a combination of yard and warehouse space of which roughly 13 000sqm will be under roof, with 13-metre-high eaves to allow for optimal use of space vertically,” Nel said.
“Working smarter and more efficiently we have invested in high inline racking, additional forklifts, and container handlers. We have made special provision to beef up security and IT infrastructure,” he said.
Nel added that the facility’s location in a logistics park was within reasonable proximity of Durban port. He said the logistics park had existing infrastructure for rail into the port and the owners were in consultation with Transnet to recommission the feeder line.
“Our new facility allows for greater container capacity and the smooth flow of cargo as we are able to accommodate multiple unpacks at the same time. The facility has top-notch security and access control, plus the benefit of being inside a logistics park that offers secure perimeter fencing, which is especially beneficial considering the recent challenges faced in the province.” he said.
He added that another major advantage of the facility was that the park had a very well-designed water reticulation and disposal system for excess water.
“The opening of our new facility was largely based on the desire of moving into a new ‘built-to-spec’ warehouse and an exciting new chapter in our business, while staying within reasonable proximity to the port. We have always strived for efficiency, and the move will facilitate the focus and design of what we do best. We envision continuing shifting our clients’ world with our new home,” he said.
Construction of the facility is expected to be completed in March 2023.
“As a leading customs-licensed depot operator, ZacPak specialises in the less-than-container-load (LCL) market, the Sars-controlled cargo market, cross-docking, and inventory management,” Nel said.
“The LCL market does not account for a large portion of the cargo that is moved in and out of the country, but does have its place within a very demanding market. Our cross-docking business, on the other hand, has enabled importers and exporters who do not have the facility, to unpack or pack containers, and this demand is on the increase.”
The group’s depots cover all coastal and inland ports in SA including Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Johannesburg.
“Our warehouses in the coastal regions attract a high demand, purely based on their proximity to the ports. The highest driving factor for having warehouses close to the ports is to mitigate the ever-increasing costs in transport, assisting with reducing the turnaround times caused by inevitable port delays and allowing for a layby of cargo to meet the client’s production or supply demand,” he said.
“The sector has started recovering since most lockdown restrictions were lifted earlier this year.
“ZacPak Durban and Cape Town have seen a definite upward trend, however the Port Elizabeth region is still being negatively impacted by vessel routing and omissions,” Nel said.
