Rapp opens 'metals marvel' warehouse
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Fr HE Rapp Organization has grown from two small garages in St. John's Wood in 1946, to a seven-acre site at Hayes, Middx, with warehouse accommodation of 120,000 sq.ft. It was opened this week by Mr. Maurice Edelman, MP for Coventry North.
The site cost £350,000 and laid fallow for several years due to Government restrictions on development.
In May 1965, the first plan for building was agreed—to develop 100,000 sq.ft.—for £308,000. Due to the national economic situation, many amendments were needed to this plan, but fortunately this resulted in a reduction of cost and final completion three weeks ahead of schedule.
By 1966 more definite plans were in hand to spend £247,000 and this is the approximate final cost together with another £50,000 for offices and can teens and £130,000's worth of equipment.
Rapp Metals Ltd has a turnover of £5m and plans to expand this considerably over the next five years. This expansion will largely take place in the form of increased sales of aluminium, airsteel and commercial stainless steel.
At Hayes, it has the most modern warehouse facilities in the country, the main 100,000 sq.ft. warehouse having six 5-ton overhead cranes, and a Mobilstack crane which can hand pick items from the racks at will. This has proved to be successful, so much so that the company has already ordered a second Mobilstack.
For a little over £-.1. million, it has the largest unit of its kind in Europe with ample space for future development. How does it justify this investment?
Rapp has moved four times in its short 20-odd year history. The longest stay has been at Southall for eight years. This is the final step however. Future developments will be outside London. These moves have been necessary in the industry due to its rapid growth. Distribution (transport and warehousing) is a £2,000,000,000 industry forming 7+ per cent of the gross national product which is more than the country spends on defence. In a decade, it has risen from 5 per cent and is still rising rapidly.
Rapp carries at Hayes a complete range for container, box or dropside vehicles. Requirements can be cut to specification.
Its 30-vehicle fleet—mainly rigids —covers a 150-mile radius daily.