LC Shankar future-proof: Phase one completed
Dec. 1, 2021
LC Packaging's FIBC production facility LC Shankar has recently moved to a custom-built production and distribution facility in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. The new facility has 10,000 sqm under roof and is part of a long-term strategy aimed at further expansion, increased output, and reverse integration. The production facility produces FIBCs (big bags) for the chemical, mining, resins, agricultural and food sectors.
The new facility allows for raw material storage, production and finished goods warehousing all to take place on one site. LC Shankar has grown immensely over the past five years and needed more space for its increased production as well as increased amounts of raw material and finished goods. The facility holds over 400 tons of raw material (with capacity for another 200 tons), production capacity (cutting, printing, liner insertion and baling) for +/- 400 tons (current production is around 75,000 bags), and a finished goods warehouse with space for 1,000 pallets which can be doubled when narrow space racking is installed. Two automatic dock levers make unloading of containers quick and efficient while all deliveries and dispatches take place under cover.
Outstanding working conditions
Over 200 employees will be working under outstanding working conditions. A double volume canteen eating area, two fully fitted kitchens and outstanding toiletry facilities ensure that the work force is well catered for. A 600 sqm double story office block will allow for under cover parking for administration workers as well as a comfortable, learning orientated modern workspace. We are expecting this to be completed by April 2022.
Of course, the factory has been designed in an ecofriendly manner with food safe LED lighting installed all round, and natural ventilation in the production areas via a “whirly bird” system. All toilets are fed with rainwater that is harvested and stored in 20 water storage tanks. Diesel forklifts have been exchanged for electric forklifts that are designed to operate in narrow spaces to reduce our carbon footprint and maximise our storage solutions. An enclosed, climate-controlled printing room was built to ensure consistency of print regardless of the extreme temperature fluctuations that we do experience. A fireproof chemical storage room is nearing completion. Finally, a project to install an “off grid” solar energy solution is well under way, and we look forward to reporting on this progress during the course of 2022.
About LC Shankar
LC Shankar has been an LC Packaging production facility since 2012. In 2020, the production facility produced and distributed over 600,000 big bags to customers around the world in the industrial and agricultural sector, in 2021 the 700,000 mark was surpassed.
The facility is fast approaching the levels where it could reverse integrate and begin extruding and weaving fabric locally.