Case study
Whyte Cargo Handlers Ltd
The history of Whyte Cargo
Whyte Cargo Handlers Ltd was set up in 1982 by William Whyte who had a background in farming and was involved in cargo handling operations from a young age.
He started initially loading grain cargoes in ports around the North East such as Peterhead, Fraserburgh and Macduff. Thirteen years later in 1995 he had the opportunity to do some work in Montrose and so opened the Montrose depot by which point he had 3 RB crawler cranes and 6 grain conveyors.
Being in Montrose brought new opportunities and the same year the company was operating in the oil and gas sector as well as with bulk cargoes. The beginning of 1996 saw the first Liebherr crane added to the fleet and the company has kept its fleet updated with Liebherr cranes ever since.
They are now active in all aspects of cargo handling operations and are available in all ports across Scotland. Their fleet now consists of Mobile Cranes, Electric Grabs up to 9 Cubic Metres, Forklifts ranging up to 16t capacity, Loading shovels, Telehandlers and Skid-steer loaders.
Willie’s grandson Daniel is now a Management trainee with Whytes and carries on the family business
How did you get involved in the business?
What role has Montrose Port played in the success of Whyte Cargo?
“My Grandfather came to Montrose Port in 1995 due to his work with agricultural companies, and then stayed because of the opportunities in the Oil industry. I think it was this diversification that really contributed to the success of the company and helped us get where we are today.
We now provide a range of services including general cargo handling,crane and plant hire, warehousing, specialist heavy lifting and secure storage.
It’s amazing to see how quickly the business has evolved over the years and I would say that coming to Montrose Port at the right time definitely worked out well."
Whytes operates across a number of ports, what is it that makes Montrose different?
"I would say that Montrose is very small business focused. Bigger companies help smaller businesses and help them to grow. It’s a very close knit community where everybody knows everybody else, and takes the time to stop and speak. The management team are dedicated and forward thinking.
Montrose operates as a trust port which benefits everybody, with lots of good opportunities for port stakeholders, for example the Seagreen maintenance base, which is just about to get underway. Also, there’s the added benefit of really competitive prices that you might not get at a bigger port. Overall, it’s a great location for businesses looking to become part of a real community."
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