AFRIPACK

Afripack (Pty) Ltd was originally founded during 1933 as Paper Sacks (SA). During its long history, the name has changed several times in line with ownership. Afripack became a black owned company during August 2004, following a successful BEE transaction involving the sale by PPC Ltd of 75% of its shareholding to Nozala Investments (Pty) Ltd (50%) and a Management Consortium (25%).

Our business philosophy is based on three strategic pillars: Focus, Technology and People.

Focus: Our market focus is Flexible Packaging: Afripack Sack (paper sacks) and Afripack Coatings (coated and laminated products) serve industrial markets whilst Afripack Consumer Flexibles (ACF) supplies FMCG markets with labels and flexible packaging.

Technology: Resulting from a sustained investment program Afripack has world class infrastructure.

People: Our people strength is enabled and facilitated through a participative, empowered and performance orientated people culture. Employee satisfaction and perceptions are also measured on an annual basis.

Afripack has a level three BBBEE score. This reflects good transformation progress in a number of areas - ownership, employment equity, CSI and preferential procurement.

OPERATIONS
Afripack has a total of seven operations, mostly based in KZN. The industrial plant in Mobeni Durban is ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 18001 accredited.

AFRIPACK SACK
Approximately R110m has been invested over the last decade in plant and equipment. The Durban based plant operates 24/7 producing paper sacks. The realistic capacity is 140 million sacks per annumand the plant consists of two fully automated German multi-wall sack lines - the most modern operation of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Products & customers: Predominantly in the Construction industry but also the Chemical and Food markets. Major customers: PPC, Lafarge, NPC, Sasol, Idwala, Saint Gobain Webber.

AFRIPACK COATINGS
The above company was formed in 2011 following the acquisition of L&CP fromNampak and the merger of same with Afripack's Reel to Reel division. The combination of extrusion coating expertise in Isithebe and flexographic printing expertise in Durban makes for an empowered and focused new business.

Approximately R90m has been invested since 2003 in the two operations in a state of the art Italian coating/laminating line and gearless flexographic presses (8 and 10 colour). Products & customers: Predominantly in the Paper industry but also roof insulation and foil laminate markets. Major customers: Mondi, Sappi, Davitas, Massmart, exports.

AFRIPACK CONSUMER FLEXIBLES
Since the acquisition of the flexible division of Astrapak during 2009 significant investment has been made in the ACF operations in terms of technology (R65m) and people empowerment.

ACF Flexibles   has two dedicated consumer flexible plants. The Durban plant has seen the commissioning of a state of the art Italian gravure printing press during 2011 whilst the Paarl plant has been augmented with a new gearless flexographic press and the upgrading of the existing German flexo press with GPS technology. These two plants represent a South African industry benchmark in terms of printing technology. Products & Customers: Specialist mono and composite films for the packaging of, general food, pet food, beverages, pharmaceutical and personal care products. Major customers: Tiger Brands, Unilever, Nestle, Cadbury, National Brands.

ACF Labels has three narrow web consumer flexibles plants -DLC in Durban, Standard Labels in Mauritius and Tamperpak in Gauteng. Recent technology investments include a new German flexographic press, a shrink sleeve line and a seamer. The company has pioneered the development of shrink sleeve labelling and has received numerous awards for its innovative use of films, inks and coatings for premium brands. Products & Customers: High-tech PE stretch labels, PVC shrink labels and wrap-around PP labels for many leading brands in the beverage and food industries. Major Customers: ABI, Clover, Tiger Brands, Unilever.

ACF Repro is an in-house repro house and flexographic plate making facility based in Durban and Paarl. Acurrent upgrade to HD technology is underway.

PARTNERSHIPS
Afripack has agency agreements with Mondi Coatings and Mondi Flexibles Europe. This enables the supply to the local market of state of the art extrusion coated, laminated and flexible packaging products. ACF also has an exclusive agreement with Autopak of Argentina to supply promotional items such as stickers, tattoos and scratch cards.

THE FUTURE
Afripack, although 78 years old, is a progressive company with a successful track record and we will continue to work hard to deliver sustainable value for all stakeholders, ensuring continued profitable growth in the fragmented flexible packaging market. The responsibility for delivering a successful future is one that all the people of Afripack assume - Sisonke: we are in this together.