Perth Airport-based courier company, Austmail, is moving into the freight forwarding market, through a joint venture with global logistics provider, Emo Trans WA Pty Ltd.
The partnership will allow Austmail to expand its fast courier business for small goods, while providing the capacity to move large scale items, such as plant and equipment.
Austmail managing director Wayne Ennis said he was approached by Emo Trans at a time when the company was looking to offer air and sea freight services.
“We feel that it makes us more complete, as a courier company,” he said.
“(Emo Trans) also has an understanding of our business and what we do.”
Mr Ennis, who founded Austmail in 1992, said the company would be targeting niche markets, where there was a demand for both express delivery of small items and large cargo transfer.
He said many of Austmail’s existing clients would be able to take advantage of the freight service, particularly in the oil and gas area.
“There’s such a big market in oil and gas in WA, and we’ve already got a good name, so we’re looking to expand on that,” Mr Ennis said.
Emo Trans will be competing against other national and international freight forwarders – including Schenker, Powerhouse and Agility – in the Western Australian market.
However, according to Emo Trans Australia managing director Ian Ahern, the company will be the only player to offer a separate courier service.
Mr Ahern said there were several factors behind the decision to partner with a WA company, including access to its client base, local knowledge and expertise.
“It means we can deliver everything from (a parcel of) one kilo to 300 tonnes,” he said.
“From Austmail’s point of view, it’s difficult for a company in WA to have the global infrastructure we have, and for us, you can’t buy the local knowledge they have.”
Austmail will add just one employee – a licensed customs broker – to its staff of 30 initially, although Mr Ennis said he expected to grow the team further.
The company is already an agent for global courier and logistics company United Parcel Service, which Mr Ennis said had provided access to a number of major clients.
