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Seafast is flexible in Felixstowe

[ August 6, 2013   //   Chris ]

The Seafast Group is to double the capacity of its Seafast Celsius temperature controlled handling facility at Felixstowe and will re-brand it Seafast Cold-Chain Logistics.

The expanded facility, set to open in early September 2013, will continue to cater for multi-temperature cargoes, developing the company’s business in chilled and fresh produce, whilst expanding its frozen capability.

It will provide a much larger warehouse area for the cross-dock handling of chilled and frozen cargoes, with 50% more vehicle loading docks. Located within the port itself, Sea-Fast says the port-centric facility will lower costs for customers, by reducing the time their cargo spends inside containers, and obviating the need to return those containers empty from inland distribution centres. The company pre-arranges final product delivery with its selected transport provider, and can handball, de-van, palletise and label products to customers’ individual requirements.

The facility is being constructed on a modular basis, giving it the flexibility to upsize or change its capabilities in line with customer demand, at short notice. There will be three separate temperature chambers, enabling it to cater for higher volumes of chilled and fresh products, whilst continuing to meet growing demand from frozen products too. The inbuilt flexibility can offer year-round service for less seasonal volumes and provide for chilled and fresh products which are far more seasonal by nature.

Seafast group managing director David Halliday said the decision to locate at Felixstowe had paid off, despitethe global recession: “Customers had to be convinced to change their established ways of working, and to see the benefits and savings that can be achieved with a port-centric operation, not to mention the environmental advantages of reduced truck movements. But the fact that we’ve been able to commit to a substantial expansion of this facility is proof enough that this concept is working well for our customers.”

The group now plans to expand still further, in partnership with key customers, who will be able to shape the facility to meet their own specific needs.

Tags: Port of Felixstowe, Seafast