Marking a century of transformation

As a fourth generation, family owned business, the company has evolved into one of the UK's leading experts in the sale, hire, conversion and storage of shipping containers.

S Jones Containers has completed hundreds of diverse conversion projects, many of which are exported around the globe. But the biggest part of the company's business remains standard, unmodified containers which are hugely popular. Demand generally from both domestic and commercial markets for strong steel boxes has taken off for a host of useful and imaginative applications.

It's a far cry from its early days after Samuel 'Sammy' Jones started the business as a haulage contactor at the beginning of World War 1.

He transported his first consignment by horse and cart – reportedly cases of crockery – from Aldridge railway station to the local Manor House, and by 1920 he had acquired his first motor lorry, a Thornycroft.

In 1936, his son Edward Jones took over the business, and over the next 25 years the company expanded into general haulage operating a large fleet of tipper lorries throughout the UK.

As the business took off, the company became a main distributor for ERF Trucks and operated the first HGV driver training school in the country.

In the early 1970s the container revolution arrived in the UK, heralding a new era for the business.

The company moved into container transport, and established one of the main shipping container depots in the West Midlands storing, repairing and maintaining thousands of shipping containers every year.

The family consolidated the business into the container depot business in 1999 since when it has gone from strength to strength, having diversified into other allied sectors of the shipping container business under the leadership of third generation chairman Michael Jones and his son Andrew, now managing director.

Today S Jones Containers is one of the country's leading retailers, hirers and modifiers of shipping containers and self-storage under its 'U Can Store It' brand.

'U Can Store It' customers can rent flexible storage space for home moves or business moves and archiving, anything from single items, motorbikes to caravans at its sites in Aldridge and West Bromwich.

The company has continued to thrive throughout the economic downturn from its strength in customer service, and 2014 was no exception as a record year for container sales, hire and conversions.

Bespoke conversions have continued to develop in sophistication. The use of 3D CAD technology enables the company's specialist design engineers to transform containers into highly sophisticated containerised solutions for equipment and processes worldwide – for power generation, solar farm electrical enclosures, restaurant complexes, water pumps, fire suppression, housing, to name but a few applications.

The variety of applications is almost infinite, explained managing director Andrew Jones. "We're completing some wonderfully diverse projects from 'housing pods' for the homeless, to biomass boiler installations for 'green' heating solutions, to pop-up cafés and restaurants. There isn't much we can't do."

A great example is the Wahaca Mexican restaurant on the Southbank, London where S Jones Containers supplied eight converted shipping containers on two levels - one with a large cantilevered overhang - for a trendy and contemporary eatery.

Andrew said: "This is a typical example of how we worked with the customers' structural engineer and architect to help with the 'containerisation' of their concept. We produced 3D CAD designs and then manufactured the units and delivered to site."

Other projects include converting shipping containers into affordable homes. Most recently, S Jones Containers' was tasked by a major YMCA division to manufacture and supply containerised living pods as individual living accommodation for the homeless.

The charity was so pleased with the quality of the workmanship and project management, it awarded a second contract for completion this year for another 20 units. In addition, S Jones Containers will also handle the internal fit outs complete with bed, kitchen, toilet and TV - from the inside you would not guess were inside a steel shipping container.

"In our centenary year, we are certainly a very different looking business to the days of my great-grandfather 'Sammy', but I'm sure he would be excited by our progress," added Andrew.

For more information, contact S Jones Containers on 01922 741752 or visit www.sjonescontainers.co.uk