BORDIC, a large importer and distributor of raw materials, hosted the official opening of its new warehousing and slitting facilities at Clairwood Logistics Park in Durban recently.

Bordic and Industrial Commodities Holdings (ICH) MD Heinrich van Wyk welcomed guests, who included customers, service providers and the property developer, Bordic team members and ICH directors from around the country. Outside the facility, a Bordic-sponsored Meals on Wheels vehicle raised awareness of the charity’s work distributing food to the needy throughout South Africa.

Heinrich extended a special welcome to Tony Walker, one of Bordic’s original directors before it became part of the ICH Group in 2011, to witness the strides the company has made.

He commended the warehouse team for the progress it has made since moving into the facility in January and for always striving to ensure that customers’ needs are met.

The 7 000m2 warehousing facilities features two equally-sized warehouses split by a yard where cargo is separated into polymers and papers for warehouse two and filmic materials for warehouse one. The latter includes a 1 000m2 temperature- and humidity-controlled and -monitored slitting facility with three slitters to slit master rolls to customers’ specific requirements.

Heinrich explained that the decision to bring these functions in-house was motivated by additional growth in the distribution of filmic materials to the flexible packaging and labelling markets, and the diversification into the distribution of paper and polymer raw materials to add value for existing and new customers. ‘This has enabled the Durban team to acquire additional storage and slitting space, directly handle the large raw material volumes and take direct control of customers’ logistics-related queries to improve lead and delivery times,’ he elaborated.

Sales director Craig Lloyd echoed these sentiments and acknowledged the crucial role that the warehouse and slitting teams play in getting Bordic across the finish line each day to meet customers’ requests. He also highlighted the importance of the group of service providers behind the warehouse and three divisions that allow Bordic to doggedly pursue world-class customer service, and thanked them for their input and guidance.

Craig also lauded customers for their long-term, ongoing partnerships with Bordic, putting their trust and loyalty in the organisation and contributing to its success. ‘It truly humbles us and makes us proud to have had an impact on you from an individual and business perspective by playing a role in this wonderful industry where we’re all working towards the common objective of creating fantastic quality flexible packaging and labels.’

He extended an open invitation to customers, beyond using the facility for their stocking and slitting material needs, to pop in if they are in the area and need a place to work or want to discuss anything.