SOUTH AFRICAN COMPANY SEEKS JAXPORT OPPORTUNITIES
June 9, 2008

A South African company that specializes in container-related sales and repairs will build a facility on the north side of Jacksonville.

The Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce announced that Big Lift Trucks will open a 33,000-square-foot warehouse and three acres of container storage on Camden Road, off Eastport Road and Florida 9A near Blount Island. The facility also will house the company’s U.S. headquarters.

The Chamber of Commerce said the company will handle full and empty container storage and container packing and unpacking of materials such as timber, steel and granite.

Big Lift Trucks also refurbishes heavy forklifts and other container equipment.

The decision to open its U.S. headquarters in Jacksonville hinged on factors related to the port’s ongoing stability and growth, said Ryan Mouritzen, vice president of Big Lift Trucks.

Existing shipping links to Africa will allow the company to export large machinery for maintenance to its Durban, South Africa, location if necessary.

The expansion of Japanese carrier MOL and Korea’s Hanjin Shipping will help the company expand its import and export services, Mouritzen said.

BLT spent $5 million on its new site and equipment and will hire five to 10 employees by its June 19 opening. Jobs will average $43,475 annually, he said.