Page 24 - Port of Hamburg | Brochure | Port of Hamburg Magazine 2.2020

■ EXPORT GATEWAY
SACO STORES MERCHANDISE FOR ITS CUSTOMERS IN VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE SHED
24 | Port of Hamburg Magazine | September 2020
On top of that, SACO has to deal with shipments of all conceivable types – giant crates, little bundles, bags, canisters, small barrels and buckets, with con- tents of all types, including hazardous cargo, but ex- cluding dynamite and radioactive substances. Cargo structure for exports depends somewhat on which countries export what. The range can include phar- maceuticals, chemicals and machines. “Much of the stuff arrives here very badly packed. Sometimes individual parts are just tied up with tape that can- not possibly hold them,” says Briks.
Around 80 blue-collar workers from the PCH – Pack- ing Center Hamburg – subsidiary therefore inspect every consignment, renewing packaging where
necessary, but always in consultation with the cus- tomer. To stabilize palleted loads and repel mois- ture, these are wrapped in foil. For some time, the packing operation has also specialized in building crates. “The expense of packaging like airbags, lashing materials, ropes, wood, cardboard and foils is constantly increasing,” reports Briks. Wood needs pre-treatment to be kept free of pests.
The merchandise ought to arrive intact at the cus- tomer’s premises even after being in heavy seas. The container therefore needs to be stuffed to en- sure that the contents do not roll backwards and for- wards. With their ample experience and a fine sense of space, staff pack the boxes so that there are no
© Nicole de Jong