A 'green' move
by Freightpak!
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Loading at Freightpak's new 'green' warehouse facility in Pinetown. |
Freightpak, a member of the JSE-listed Value Group, has relocated its office and warehouse in KwaZulu-Natal to a new R13-million flagship facility in Mahogany Ridge, Pinetown.
OK, we admit this is not really 'hold the front page news' but listen to this. The design of the new premises not only ensures total supply chain management efficiency but also incorporates aesthetic features that enhance the surrounds and most importantly, demonstrates the highest level of protection of the environment.
On this latter point, it is interesting to note that fully bunded (recessed), the new warehouse becomes a containment tank with a 1 000 000 litre holding capacity should spillage or sprinkler system discharge occur. A custom-designed roof structure maintains cool temperatures within, while warm air rises to the centre for natural air flow dispersal through vents.
Knowing that it deals in dangerous goods, Freightpak also fitted the storm water drains with emergency shut-off valves to prevent any spillage entering the waste water system. Filtration tanks also filter surface water thus ensuring no chemical residue enters the waste water system. And it rounded it all off by using only indigenous plants in the landscaping.
FleetWatch lifts its hat to Freightpak for demonstrating such a high degree of environmental responsibility. This is good corporate citizenship at its best. It is also good business practice.
On this point, the principle of designing and operating around sustainable environmental principles may not seem important to many companies in South Africa but it certainly is if you're dealing with organisations which have overseas links. In Europe, for example, if a company does not demonstrate the highest level of environmental responsibility, it will quickly be taken off the shopping list by customers.
Interesting on this point is that Ciba Specialty Chemicals (Pty) Ltd, one of Freightpak's major customers, undertook an inspection of the premises to ensure it complied with International Ciba EHS standards regarding facilities as well as the management of quality of service, storage preservation of products, fire prevention and potential spillage containment. And it was given the stamp of approval.
You can bet your dollar that if it hadn't complied, Ciba International would have found another supplier. The days of South Africa companies ignoring the principles of environmental sustainability are over - especially if you're dealing with overseas clients - and
FleetWatch urges all companies to take note of this and clean up their acts on this issue.
The 500 000m³ chemical storage warehouse - the largest third party packed chemical warehouse in KwaZulu-Natal - is a high-rise, fully racked warehouse with a capacity of 6 500 numbered pallet locations - an increase of 45% on the capacity of the company's previous premises in Teakwood Road, Jacobs.
It's no wonder CEO Brian Goldie states that one of the reasons for the move was that the company had outgrown its previous premises. That's a huge increase and there's more to come when Phase two kicks in and increases the capacity to 10 000 pallet positions.
Freightpak is one of the only end-to-end logistics service providers in South Africa to operate warehouses in Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, as well as providing national, regional and local distribution.
Patrick O'Leary
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