Steel boxes support construction, tertiary training, community initiatives and more
The expansion of the shipping container sector in 2021 was highlighted by a diverse range of major projects – from a large-scale storage system for hand sanitiser to a bike valet service for America’s Cup spectators.
Royal Wolf Executive General Manager, Paul Creighton, said versatility, portability, and cost effectiveness are key reasons companies and organisations are increasingly using containers to help meet business challenges.
“Containers continue to have strong usage in the retail, construction, and infrastructure sectors. However, there has been a significant increase of container products being supplied to a growing range of industries including government and agri-business through to intermodal and the community and not for profit sectors.”
Storage key to supply chain efficiency
From storing sugar and hand sanitiser through to refrigerated and dangerous goods, containers played a key role in helping retail and product supply sectors to meet demand at peak times.
Royalwolf worked closely with hand and surface sanitiser business Zoono, which saw demand for its products grow exponentially during the pandemic, on an efficient and large-scale container storage system.
Using a combination of Wolf Lock and traditional containers it enabled Zoono easy access to stock and components, streamlining the company’s supply chain to ensure a quicker turn-around time to meet customer demand.
“When we have time critical shipments, a big thing for us is getting things quickly and on time,” said Zoono Operations Manager Dwayne Dean.
“Royalwolf gives us easy access to our components and what we used to move in two or three days, can now be moved in one.”
Construction advantage
With sustained momentum behind construction and infrastructure projects, Royalwolf continued to supply stackable site offices and lunch facilities to help maximise space on restrictive work sites, as well as solutions such as pedestrian walkways to provide increased safety.
Major construction / infrastructure projects included:
- A 40m run of containers providing pedestrian protection and a full work site solution at Ryman Healthcare’s latest development in Takapuna
- Twenty-five double-stacked containers to maximise a tight site at the University of Auckland for a major redevelopment project led by Hawkins Construction
- A new retail, hospitality, and accommodation hub in Cambridge required a safe, secure and spacious container solution to accommodate the construction team while also providing a professional work site image at one of the town’s landmark projects
Supporting tertiary and council sectors
Royalwolf partnered with Unitec to help support better educational outcomes for students in the New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills – Carpentry course.
Course head Joseph Pitovao worked closely with Royalwolf to design and create two 20-foot modified containers which met their specific storage and access needs.
“We try to ensure the course is as close as possible to the real building sites the students will be working. Royal Wolf’s bespoke containers, which you see on most construction sites these days, are a big part of creating that environment,” said Mr Pitovao.
A similar project saw Auckland Council work with Royalwolf to create a valet bike service on Maungauika / North Head for spectators to park their bikes during the America’s Cup.
Using a multi-purpose open side container as the main hub, the Council’s valet service encouraged locals to ride to the lookout to reduce the impact mitigate limited car parking available around the Devonport landmark.
Mr Creighton said: “Not only are containers highly portable but they can also be fitted out to suit a customer’s specific needs whether it’s for a café, a retail outlet or a bike hub.”
Meeting community need
With the pandemic continuing to impact vulnerable communities, Royalwolf supplied containers to numerous community organisations throughout the year.
Debbie Munroe, who runs food bank and community centre Waka of Caring in the Auckland suburb of Manurewa, looks after families in need every day. Royalwolf partnered with Debbie and her team to provide a 10-foot Wolf Lock container to securely store goods before they are given to the public.
“Our building couldn’t cope with the amount of food and supplies people donate – thankfully Royal Wolf delivered,” she said.
A fish filleting container created by Royal Wolf for the Kai Ika project in 2020 is also being used as a base for a research and development project producing organic fertiliser made from fish gills and offal.
Located at Papat??nuku K?kiri Marae in Mangere, the modified 20-foot Kai Ika container is a key part of Kai Ika’s waste utilisation kaupapa (focus).
Container Projects for 2021
- Unitec Campus
- Tamaki Drive
- Kai Ika Fertiliser
- The University of Auckland
- America's Cup
- Waka of Caring
- Ryman Healthcare
- Mt Eden Apartments
- Chelsea Sugar Factory
