20 - Sunday. September 9. 1990 - North Shore News BUSINESS N. Van company corners market on cargo WHEN MOST of us turn our eyes to the sky we see clouds — on good days we enjoy a blue expanse. But the people working at North Vancouver-based Skytainer Industries Inc. see airliners carry- ing their cargo containers. The fledgling company is well on its way to building itself into a high- flying business by manufacturing a new breed of airborne cargo boxes. There are a lot of airline cargo containers in circulation. But the attrition rate for the containers is about 20 per cent annually. Con- tainers are either stolen, lost or worn out. Said Skytainer vice-president Peter Watson, ‘‘It’s a huge mar- ket in terms of worldwide de- mand. The container for the Boe- ing 747 alone is better than 40,000 46 It’s a huge market in terms of worldwide demand. The container for the Boeing 747 alone is better than 40,000 units annually in terms of replacement. 99 — Skytainer vice-president Peter Watson units annually in terms of replacement.”’ Skytainer saw opportunity wing its way and came up with a better box. It is the only company in Canada manufacturing airline cargo containers. On Aug. 13, the company secured Transport Canada cer- tification for a container designed to work with the A320 Airbus wide-body jet. Certification allows Skytainer to market the product around the world. Air Canada is testing the performance of the containers and has ordered 20. The company has also designed a container to fit the Boeing 767 and the Boeing 747 and larger 747-400 aircraft. Certification for the 747 containers is expected to come through later this year. The company has also designed and manufactured smaller airline cargo containers to handle Canada Post air mail. Canada Post had initially intended to purchase PROTECT YOUR DON’T SMOKE F British Columbia Lung Associating boxes Michael Becker HIGH TECH 1,000 containers. But said Skytainer president Ed King, ‘‘Unfortunately that pro- gram got axed during their cut- backs. So it's in limbo. t:'s not a dead issue.** The cargo containers designed and manufactured by Skytainer address a number of common weaknesses King found in other containers. “The door closing mechanisms on containers were constantly giv- ing trouble. There was quite a lot of problem with drugs and tampering with the containers. Ls a big world out there - and the market for British Columbia goods and services is getting bigger every day. That's why the Ministry of International Business and Immigration set up = gn any NEWS photo Mike Wakefield NORTH VANCOUVER-based Skytainer Industries inc. recently received Transport Canada certifica- tion for a new kind of airline cargo container manufactured for the A320 Airbus. Skytainer president Ed King (left) and the company's vice-president Peter Watson show one of the cargo boxes. Drugs and bombs and all kinds of things were being put into con- tainers, so they were very con- cerned about closing them. And the aluminum containers they were using were susceptible to damage. They weren't designed to take the load ours are designed to take,’” King said. The Skytainer boxes incorporate a patented aluminum frame con- figuration. The box panels are made of a tough plastic product BC Trade - to help B.C. companies get their share of international sales. ° And it's working: the province's exports now total $18 billion a year. One out of every seven jobs in B.C. exists because of export sales. BRITISH COLUMBIA TRADE T CORPORATION FS VA DEN ELOPMEN C— SE— = Chairman: Honourable Elwood Veitch BC TRADE Minister of International Business & Immigration put out by General Electric called Lexan. And container doors have been replaced with Velcro-sealed flaps. The 86-kilogram Airbus container is certified to carry 1,500 kilograms. While Skytainer is in the pro- cess of expanding its operation in North Vancouver, King said the company will eventually move toa site at the Vancouver International Airport. King is contemplating taking the private company public MA To spot opportunities for B.C. companies, we have trade offices in major cities of Asia, Europe and the U.S.A. And to help you take advantage of those opportunities, we offer international marketing know-how and financial assistance. Shupsun Power Products Lid. (Simpoiter) produces generator ystems and marine and industrial envines for use around the world. Shown at Sinpowers Coquitlam plant are president Charles Butterfield Uefty and rice president Peter Meurrens, Assistance from B.C. Trade helped Simpower sell Venezuela generator sets for the Yacuma Quibor Tanned. If your company could grow through export sales, get in touch with BC Trade: Suite 730, 999 Canada Place, Vancouver. B.C. VOE 3E1. Telephone 844-1900: Fax 660-2-157. One expeats are noi SES dilleent a year, way Elivood vench, Master of Inert: Trnde cera a sa at PN i lo finance the next stage of its de- velopment. Transport Canada has set aside just over onc acre to house an air cargo container servicing and manufacturing facility adjacent to a new baggage terminal planned for the airport. “Literally thousands of con- tainers come through the airport. We will be actively canvassing to carry out all container service work for all carriers,’’ King said. T Basties aid Chatrnan of BC Pats ais mtcreise ot Pitt percent cleaibe he etcind te beg SON pity ‘ot