United Container Depots (UCD) has moved from its location in Paarden Eiland to larger premises in Beaconvale, Parow, also in Cape Town.

The new depot has a container stacking area of more than 20 000 m2; warehouse space of 4 000 m2; a dedicated controlled atmosphere (CA) gassing area for up to four trucks; three empty container handling machines; 120 reefer plug points; as well as dedicated collection and drop-off truck lanes.

With a laydown area double the size of the company’s previous depot, the new facility has a capacity of more than 3 600 twenty-foot equivalent units.

“This is the first new site for UCD since we opened the depot in Paarden Eiland in the early nineties,” says Grindrod Freight Services executive member Andrew Sturrock.

“Over the years, we have adjusted our business model from operating as a general-purpose depot, to now focusing on 60% to 70% reefer-orientated work.

“Having doubled our current capacity, we can now offer our customers a more streamlined system of container movement through the yard.”

“The Paarden Eiland depot served us well, but we are excited about being able to offer our clients a more seamless, smooth processing of inbound and outgoing trucks,” adds Sturrock Grindrod Maritime (SGM) Technical CEO Marcus Twine.

“We have cameras recording all in- and outbound traffic, with secure electrified fencing around the premises. There is also a larger workshop area now for container repairs and we will look at increasing our technical staff complement to service our growing depot.”

UCD is an accredited warranty service agent for Star Cool, Daikin, Carrier and Thermo King reefer equipment manufacturers, as well as an agent for third-party CA suppliers Liventus and Purfresh in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

UCD currently has depots in Johannesburg, Gqeberha and Durban.

The company is also looking at acquiring another site in Durban in the near future.

UCD is owned by SGM and, along with its sister companies Hesper Engineering, NovaMarine and SwiftNova Engineering, makes up the SGM Technical division within Grindrod.

SGM Technical offers solutions ranging from marine safety equipment and servicing to steel/pipe fabrication, mechanical repairs, as well as blasting and coating services for all types of vessels.