Why are steel portal frame warehouse so popular in Africa?

With the acceleration of Africa's industrialization process and the vigorous development of cross-border e-commerce, the demand for warehousing and logistics has surged. However, traditional brick-concrete warehouses have a long construction period, weak disaster resistance, and high maintenance costs, which are difficult to match the rapid changes in the African market. In recent years, steel portal frame warehouses have become the new favorite of African warehousing construction with their core advantages of fast, stable, economical and flexible. This article will analyze the adaptability of steel portal frame warehouse based on Africa's actual needs, and reveal how to choose a reliable partner.

Ⅰ. Why is the steel portal frame better for building warehouses in Africa? ​​

Africa has a complex climate: high temperature and humidity in tropical grasslands, strong winds and rainstorms in coastal areas, salt spray corrosion in some areas... Traditional buildings are easily affected by the environment, have a short lifespan, and are frequently repaired. The inherent advantages of steel portal frame warehouses just solve these difficulties.

​​1. Fast construction

The logistics infrastructure in many parts of Africa is weak, and the transportation cycle of building materials is long (for example, cement and bricks need to be allocated across regions). The steel portal frame warehouse adopts a prefabricated assembled structure. The core components such as beams, columns, and purlins are all standardized in the factory. After arriving at the site, they only need to be bolted or simply welded. The construction period is shortened by 40%-60% compared with traditional brick-concrete warehouses. For example, for a 5,000 square meter warehouse, the steel frame only takes 2-3 weeks to complete the main construction, while the traditional method takes 2-3 months. For agricultural product storage and cross-border logistics centers that are in urgent need of operation, this speed is directly related to the early benefits.

​​2. Weather resistance and corrosion resistance

The annual precipitation in some parts of Africa exceeds 2,000 mm (such as the Congo Basin), and the annual average high temperature in some areas exceeds 35°C (such as around the Sahara). Ordinary steel is prone to rust and wood is prone to rot. The steel of the steel portal frame warehouse is treated with hot-dip galvanizing or aluminum-zinc plating to form a dense oxide film on the surface, which increases the corrosion resistance by 3-5 times; it is equipped with polystyrene sandwich panels or color steel plates for enclosure, which is waterproof, heat-insulating, and insect-proof. Even if it is exposed to a humid environment for a long time, the structural life can still reach more than 30 years. In an agricultural storage project in Nigeria, the steel frame warehouse has been operating stably for 5 years without deformation or rust of the main structure.

3. Low cost

The labor cost in Africa has been rising year by year. Traditional buildings require a lot of on-site masonry and pouring, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive. The components of the steel portal frame warehouses are highly standardized, and only a small number of skilled workers are needed on site to complete the assembly, which greatly reduces the labor cost. In addition, the steel recycling rate is high (up to more than 80%), and the materials can be reused during later expansion or renovation. After the brick-concrete structure is demolished, the building materials are basically scrapped, and the hidden cost is higher. It is estimated that the comprehensive construction cost of the steel portal frame warehouse is 15%-20% lower than that of traditional buildings, and the later maintenance cost is lower.

​​4. Flexible expansion

Small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa are developing rapidly, and storage needs often change dynamically with business expansion. Steel portal frame warehouses adopt a modular design. The spacing between beams and columns and the height of the roof can be adjusted as needed. Later construction only requires the addition of prefabricated components without overthrowing and rebuilding. For example, a cross-border e-commerce warehouse in Kenya was initially planned to be 2,000 square meters. After one year of operation, the orders surged. Through the characteristics of the steel frame, the 1,000 square meter expansion was completed in just one week, without affecting the existing operation at all.

Ⅱ. ​​Why choose Canglong Group?

There are many suppliers of steel portal frame warehouse on the market, but African projects have extremely high requirements for localized adaptation. From climate protection to transportation timeliness, from design details to after-sales support, none of them can be missing. ​​With more than 20 years of overseas engineering experience, Canglong Group has become the preferred partner for African customers. Its core advantages are reflected in:

​​Customized design to meet African needs

In view of the characteristics of high temperature, high humidity, strong winds and rainstorms in Africa, Canglong Group optimizes the steel anti-corrosion process (such as the use of CGL color steel plate + hot-dip galvanized steel frame combination) and provides customers with climate zoning solutions. The coastal areas strengthen the wind-resistant design (increase the density of purlins and strengthen the connection nodes), and the tropical grassland areas focus on heat insulation and moisture-proof (with 50mm thick PU sandwich panels).

​​Full-process service, worry-free and more secure

From the preliminary scheme design (free 3D modeling and cost estimation), factory quality inspection (each batch of components undergoes X-ray flaw detection and load testing), to on-site installation guidance (dispatching certified engineers on site), after-sales maintenance (providing 10-year structural warranty + regular inspections), Canglong Group follows up throughout the process to solve customers' concerns that they will not build or dare not build.

Ⅲ. ​​For African warehousing upgrades, steel portal frames are the best solution

In Africa, steel portal frame warehouse is not only synonymous with fast construction speed, but also a comprehensive solution that is resistant to climate, cost-saving, and easy to expand. Choosing Canglong Group not only can obtain high-quality steel components and professional services, but also rely on its localized experience to make warehouses from construction to good use, truly becoming the driving force for the growth of African companies.

If you are planning a warehousing project in Africa, you may want to learn about Canglong Group's steel portal frame solutions. Canglong uses the strength of steel to protect every harvest.