BuzzBox December 2010

Newsletter - December, 2010

December, 2010

CEO's Message

As 2010 draws to an end, and with the festive season now upon us, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge some of the valuable contributions that have been made to SCF Group throughout what has proven to be a very tough year for businesses.

I would like to begin by acknowledging the continuous support from our customers, old and new. Despite the sluggish unpredictable economic recovery, our customers have remained loyal and continue to work with us to deliver better products. Rail Containers’ customers have been instrumental in assisting us to fine tune the development of our plastic side-doors with trials and feedbacks. Refrigerated containers have been gaining momentum as well with more orders in the pipeline. Australian Defence is the latest to join the mining sector in adopting our Container Rooms as part of their business solution. The strength of Australian oil and mining industry pushed Tank Containers into record high rental contracts over the past 3 months.

A special thank you to the priceless contributions made by our staff over the past 12 months. Their dedication to our business has been invaluable in maintaining sales and growing the rental business despite the tough economic conditions. Their efforts are appreciated and they have made my transition into my new role as CEO a smooth and enjoyable experience.

I would also like to acknowledge the long-term contribution of Lindsay Carthew. As co-founder and joint managing director for 19 years, Lindsay has been a strong partner and friend. I look forward to working closely with Lindsay in his new capacity as Director Special Projects.

A heart-felt thank you to our equity partner, Archer Capital and our financial partner, National Australia Bank. They have been great in assisting us to plan our growth and maintain a strong balance sheet which gives us a competitive advantage and the opportunity to supply containers to our customers during this tough economic environment. I hope they enjoy a well deserved break this Christmas.

For more information on what is happening in SCF, please check out our website throughout the year.

Until then, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, a safe and prosperous New Year, and I look forward to hearing from you in 2011!

Richard Sykes, CEO

SCF National Operations

The Christmas rush is definitely upon us with containers proving to be at the top of everyone’s shopping list. Of course in the true style of the peak season, December has exploded beyond belief with most requiring above and beyond that expected. The good news is more containers are on the way with arrivals scheduled throughout the month and into the New Year.

In 2011 SCF will continue to build on our relationships with customers and suppliers, and develop new methods to better assist your business. An improved customer access portal to the SCF tracking system, faster communication and turnaround for operational requests and greater stock availability than ever before. These are just some of the areas which SCF Operations will be rolling out in the very near future.

On behalf of the operations team, we wish to thank everyone for their ongoing support during the year. We look forward to continuing our strong partnerships with you all in 2011.

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Nick Schwartz | National Operations Manager

Social Club News

SCF Group takes the trophy, but the Kids are the real winners

Each year the Toll Group in South Australia hold a charity golf day and Dinner to assist with the annual fundraising for a very worthwhile cause. This year was no exception with SCF again supporting Toll to raise funds for the Little Heroes Foundation.

With the GFC still ringing in our ears it has become more difficult for corporate days to raise money for charities through sponsors and the like. However the Toll Group, in particular Terry Bartsch from Toll Tasmania who runs this event has not only managed to put together a top class day but has also managed to grow the event even in these difficult times.

This year the weather was surprisingly normal compared to the cyclonic conditions of previous years. SCF entered 2 teams at the Toll Golf - Matt Harris, Lionel Edwards, Hamish Taylor and Bob Huxley took the trophy while Noon McNamara, Steve Daskalakis, Brian Whitehorn and Peter Robinson enjoyed a fun day.

We look forward to being associated with next year’s event and are already working on how we can make it three from three although I believe the handicapper is already after us.

SA Connect Golf Day

SCF is also pround to be one of the major sponsors at the SA Connect Golf Tournament held on the 20th October at the Adelaide Shores Golf Club. The event has gathered momentum in it's second year with 18 teams participating. Each division from SCF Group was represented at the tournament and everyone took home a prize.

Back LtoR- Hamish Talyor, Kym Dunn, Liam Cashen, Matt Harris, Bob Huxley
Front LtoR- Sharyn Seabrook, Richard Sykes, Noon McNamara, Lindsay Carthew

Wilson HTM Brisbane to Gold Coast 100km

Team Simply Containers completed a gruelling 100km bike ride from Brisbane to Gold Coast on November 7^th 2010.

Riders are Brett Carthew, Bill Pares and Domenico Zavaglia

Staff Profile

David Eason

Container Rooms, Adelaide

Position/ role: Project and Design Engineer, Container Rooms

Profile

I like long walks on the beach, poetry and Unicorns. I was Born in the UK and immigrated to Australia when I was 1. I grew up in Adelaide’s south (Reynella / Woodcroft) with my Mum, Dad, younger Brother and Sister. I went to UNI SA and I have a Degree in Industrial Design. I can’t sit still for more than 5 minutes and people who know me find me fun and exciting where as people who know me really well find me highly annoying.

PS I was just trying to be funny I don’t really like poetry.

Favorite pastime?

Watching & Playing Football (the one the rest of the world plays). Although, this is a love hate thing I’m sure more than one of you can relate to this. Also Poker, I love Poker another frustrating game that I often have no control over.

Best thing about working for SCF?

The People, I know that sounds sucky because I’ve only been here 5 minutes but ‘so far’ you guys have been really cool to work with.

Favorite Food?

I love all sorts of food if I’m not cooking it, but if I have to cook ‘STIRFRY’ is the order of the day.

Best Holiday and Why?

Going back to the UK was cool. Again I’m sounding corny but finding out where I came from was a great experience. Other than that any time I’m in the snow is a good time.

Best movie ever seen?

Casino; Sharon Stone is Hot, Robert De Niro is cool and Joe Pesci is Joe Pesci

Greatest achievement in life?

I’ve done a few things I’m proud of but in recent times completing a Triathlon was a pretty big achievement for me, physically it was the hardest it thing I have ever done!

Who is your idol?

My Mum and Dad

Market Update

Since the last newsletter, supply of second-hand containers for re-sale in the domestic market, has considerably tightened in Australia. This trend is not just confined to Australia, but is global and expected to continue for some time. Shipping Lines and Container Leasing Companies have such high utilization rates now, that they are holding onto their stock for far longer than previously experienced.

For the consumer, this can only mean two things – higher prices and shortage of supply.

The upside of this is that demand for Simply Containers ‘new products’ is continually increasing. New 20’ containers are becoming more and more popular – the price differential between new and used is shrinking making the purchase of a new container very attractive. Sales of ToxBox (our dangerous goods container) are steadily growing and with the addition of the 20’ models, they are in high demand.

New Melbourne Office/Depot

After 7 years based in an office complex in Brooklyn, Melbourne staff have finally been given the keys (in Oct) to their new office and depot in West Sunshine. All the staff – Rebecca, Kyle, Dana (from Simply’s) and Hamish (Rail Containers) – are excited with the new challenges that this will represent.

The new premises’ is more of a Retail Showroom than a traditional container depot and we all look forward with interest as to how this concept will progress.

NPSA 8^th Annual Conference – Orlando Florida

National Portable Storage Association – is an association of Container Dealers (and related industries) in America – I had the privilege of attending this conference in November (It’s a tough gig and someone had to do it). The conference was held in Orlando at one of the many Disney World hotels and attracted some 500 delegates from around the States, as well as numerous European container traders. SCF Group is the only Australian member and was probably the only attendee from the southern hemisphere.

The goal of this trip was to see how container dealers in America ‘do things’. Are there things we can learn from them in how they do business, are there products we don’t have and do they have different ideas that we could use?

It was an interesting trip and highlighted to me how small our industry in Australia is – and how far away we are!

From all the staff at Simply Containers, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year

Kym Dunn, General Manager

Seasons Greetings to All!

The festive season is well and truly upon us and may I take this moment to wish you all a very happy holidays.

As we approach the final days of 2010 of which was great year for Container Rooms, we have to be optimistic of what exciting projects 2011 will bring to the table. As any manager would agree that a successful delivery of any project would not have occurred without the dedication and support of their team.

The divisional report for December will not focus solely on our New project awards and successes but rather report on the team that made it all happen. Container Rooms is grateful to all that work under the SCF Group Banner. Our success is a direct result of their support.

A BIG THANK YOU to the finance Division. We certainly do need the occasional push for chasing payments but without the constant whispering in the ear I am sure the debtors would be longer than Santa’s Christmas list.

We often suffer conflicts in estimated shipping periods but to the Operation Department, we thank you for your patience and planning, without your commitment who knows when and where our container would arrive.

To the CR team Ian, Liam and David, I wish you a very Merry Christmas.

Ian Richardson, our Senior Project Manager for the division is responsible for the costing, manufacture and quality control of assigned projects. Ian is a great asset to the team and we look forward to his support in 2011.

Liam Cashen is our Defence BDM for the division and has certainly proved himself over the past few months with some excellent projects from the defence sector.

Our newest employee in the Division is David Eason. David focuses on the design elements of the Container Rooms products. His role ranges from Initial concept drawings through the BOM and project costing. David is working towards to becoming a senior project manager for the division.

New Product in 2011

We may be wrapping up 2010 but we will soon be un-wrapping the newest Container Room product in 2011. The Akora I.Q™ is set to hit Australian shores early 2011. The I.Q is designed around providing our clients with a High Quality, Low cost solution to moveable modular office/accommodation requirements.

To all our customers 'SEASONS GREETINGS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR'

Here are ten useful phrases to Christmas present’s you would rather not have received:

Thanks a lot!
My word! What a gift.
Well, well, well…
If I hadn’t put on so much weight recently it would rather have fitted me perfectly.
Gosh, I hope I never lose this. We’re always losing things around here.
It’s great; but I’m worried about the envy it may create.
Just my luck to get this on the very Christmas I promised to give all my gifts to charity.
Unfortunately, I am about to enter my MI5’ Witness protection programme.
Frankly, I don’t deserve this.
Really, you shouldn’t have.

Exciting New Developments with the polymer side door container

SCF’s innovative new 40’ side door container continues to grow and develop as the industry gets the opportunity to trial the box in Australian conditions.

As part of the introduction process of this new and exciting piece of equipment the initial prototype boxes were given to major players in the industry to trial and comment on. Without exception the feedback from customers has been positive with several enhancements designed into the container to suit the needs of the industry. The major development has been the design of a 48’ version of this container in response to overwhelming demand from the industry for a container of this specification.

The first prototypes of the 48’ polymer side door container will arrive into Australia very early in 2011 and will immediately be taken on trial by several major transport groups who are eager to find an alternative to curtain side containers and the ongoing M&R costs and security issues associated with these containers. SCF Group anticipate going into production on this container during the first quarter of 2011.

Richard Sykes, CEO of SCF Group commented that “this container is the most exciting and innovative container I have ever worked on, and is more keenly anticipated by the industry than any other design SCF have offered to the market in the past ten years”.

In addition there is also considerable interest in the polymer side door container from the European market. Both Jonathan Coad and Nick Schwartz attended the Intermodal conference in Amsterdam in November and demand for a secure, low maintenance side access container in the European market is huge, with the European market facing exactly the same issues with curtain side containers as the Australian market does. Customers were literally lining up to discuss this container with Nick and Jonathan and a European specification model will be introduced early in 2011 as well.

If you are interested in the new 48’ side access polymer door container please contact Jonathan Coad on 0414 500 775 for full details and specifications.

Tank Containers Solves Safety Issue

Recently Toll SPD Adelaide required some special modifications to its On Hire Tank fleet to comply with their client’s onsite working at Heights Safety Regulations.

These Tanks were fitted with Air Operating Inlet / outlet Valves to assist our client to operate our Tanks from ground level.

Air is supplied from the Transporting Truck which connects to air fittings on our Tanks this allows the operator to load or unload his product from ground level.

Side discharge and loading pipe work is fitted so the operator can easily connect his hoses to the tank without the need to climb up onto his trailer and onto the top of the Tank to allow him to discharge or load his product.

If you wish more information on this article or you have a similar issue please contact us as Your Safety is our priority.