Entering Rock-It Cargo’s new UK headquarters – with the roar of jet engines overhead – it’s clear why the freighting experts chose this building, just a stone’s throw from Heathrow Airport. A significant upgrade from its previous office, the 50,000 sq ft facility is now home to several divisions of the Rock-It family, including Rock-It Cargo, SOS Global, Dynamic International, and Dietl International Services.
Before Rock-It moved in, the former Air Canada building underwent a full refurbishment, which included the installation of heat pumps, solar panels, and EV charging points – making the facility among the greenest within the Heathrow ecosystem – as well as allowing space for a state-of-the-art, in-house shipment screening process. TPi caught up with Chris Palmer, Executive Commercial Director at Rock-It Cargo, to hear what this move means for the company’s future. “Prior to moving into this new space, we had several UK offices spread all over,” he began. “After the acquisitions that have taken place over the past four to five years, it was time to bring all the companies into one location. It allows us to consolidate our lease spend while encouraging better collaboration between the brands.”
Spread across two floors, the open-plan office now houses all the companies side by side. “It’s like creating a supergroup,” laughed Palmer, discussing the benefits of having experts from different markets working together. “Rock-It has traditionally done some work in film and TV – around 5% to 10% of our business – but now, with the likes of Dynamic being part of the group, we’ve been able to go to long-standing clients and explain that we now have this additional branch of expertise.”
Palmer was also keen to emphasise that none of the companies had to downsize during the process. “We haven’t consolidated the teams at all – in fact, we’ve been able to learn from each other. You’d think it would be a similar working process, as we’re all in the business of moving boxes around the world, but the way things are done in, say, the art world compared to music is actually very different.”
One of the most exciting developments at the facility is the installation of the company’s own X-ray and ETD (Explosive Trace Detection) machines. The company also works with a sniffer dog team that visits the warehouse daily to assess outgoing shipments. Implementing these procedures has been a time-consuming and costly process, requiring Rock-It to employ certified staff – all of whom are specially trained and background checked.
The offices are also inspected regularly by the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) and audited, often without any prior notice, to ensure that everything is to code.
“Previously, when we were screening large shipments, we had to rely on an external third party as all of our competitors still do and setting us apart,”explained Palmer. “The benefits of having these processes in-house are efficiency and speed. We no longer have to send three or four staff members to oversee a shipment being screened by another company, where we might have had to wait in a queue.”
To meet CAA standards, Rock-It implemented stringent security measures throughout the premises, allowing all personnel movements to be tracked, and ensuring the facility is always ready for an audit from the authority. “You can’t move around the building without screening in and out of any room,” said Palmer, emphasising the importance of ensuring the site remains secure. “We’ve already had some really big shipments that have benefitted from this new procedure,” he added enthusiastically, making special mention of the Post Malone production this summer. Due to its success, the company hopes to introduce similar processes at other facilities – particularly in Los Angeles and New York.
“We’re currently looking at LA, and our UK team has been doing a lot of consultancy calls with them to guide our US colleagues through the process. We’re using London as the blueprint we want to replicate worldwide.”
During a tour of the warehouse and screening facilities, TPi also met Simon Jackson and Chris Hill. The duo explained that the expansion has not only improved operational efficiency but also an increase in its storage options for artists and productions looking to park equipment between touring campaigns, adding another service that the company can now offer the community.
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Words: Stew Hume
Photos: TPi
