Company Announcement - The South African packaging industry plays an important role in the South African economy, contributing R79-billion in 2014. Plastics packaging makes up the largest share contributing R35,9-billion in 2014. This was followed by paper and board packaging contributing R25,2-billion to the economy last year. The food and beverages industry, serviced by the packaging industry, continues to attract global investment. South Africa’s food and beverages industry increased by 9.2% to R4bn in September this year compared to September last year, as reported by Statistics SA in November.

The rest of the African continent is set to become a high growth region for the packaging industry, especially East and West Africa, where GDP is on par with the fastest growing regions of the world. The International Monetary Fund predicts growth of 6,5% per annum over the next 5 years in East and West Africa, putting the two regions on par with mainland China and emerging Asia. Packaging demand on the continent is being driven by increased markets for consumer products, burgeoning individual incomes, an expanding population of youthful consumers and growing domestic economies.

The importance of packaging and related industries will take centre stage at Africa’s largest packaging, food processing, plastics, printing and labelling trade exhibition, which will afford hundreds of local and international exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their latest products, equipment, machinery and services.   Propak Africa, taking place at the Expo Centre, Nasrec in Johannesburg, from 15-18 March 2016, will offer visitors the opportunity to see state-of-the-art equipment as well as a vast array of machinery, auxiliary products and services. Visitors can expect to see many leading-edge South African companies in the packed halls, as well as high-profile international exhibitors from countries such as India, China, Belgium, Austria, Portugal, France, Turkey, Greece, the UAE and the United Kingdom.

“We’ve had an overwhelming response from companies with over 90% of available exhibition space already sold and all indications are that the show will be a sell-out,” says Joshua Low, Propak Africa Event Director. “Research confirms that Propak Africa with its co-located shows is the largest show of its kind in the southern hemisphere. We are expecting high visitor attendance at the 2016 show and believe that it will be a successful and enjoyable event for all participants.”

The packaging industry is driven by demands of consumers and latest global trends, which leads to innovative technology developments and product solutions to meet these needs. Many packaged products on the retail shelves are largely as a result of the collective food processing, packaging, plastics, print and labeling industries, which is why it’s so important to showcase these industries together.

Innovations on show will include Zibo Containers who will showcase a ‘one-stop-shop’ of punnets, trays and lidding film for the fresh cut produce, convenience and ready meals market. The company recently started stocking a range of lidding films to seal onto its trays and will now also supply the suitable tray heat sealing machines to cater for the needs of the fresh cut produce and convenience or ready meal markets. 
 
Filmatic Packaging Systems will launch the new generation Net Weigh Filling Valve and Magnetic Clutch Systems at Propak Africa 2016.  The new designed filling valve net weigh fillers enable clients to achieve a very precise filling weight, with 1g accuracy, making it more cost effective and minimising product waste. The company’s variable flow control valve promotes non-contact, non-drip filling, creating a hygienic filling environment while also minimising the foaming characteristics that some products tend to have, making it easier to accurately fill at high speed. Filmatic will also be displaying a linear bottle unscramble, double lane yoghurt filler, wraparound labeler, horizontal pouch filler, linear piston filler, rotary level filler, shrink wrapper, self-adhesive roll fed labeller, semi-automatic rinser, filler, capper, PMG2 brick forming and wrapping machine, inline pump filler and a waterfall cap unscramble.
 
Fontana South Africa will launch the new Easy Twist 29/25 closures and preforms, the first of its kind in the South African market, at Propak Africa 2016. Preforms have been made available in 12.5g and 28g. The light weighting of both the closure and preform makes the 29/25 easily the lightest in the market. A two point seal, half turn removal, low opening torque and break before leak are some of benefits that clients will experience with the 29/25 Closure.

At the show, veteran exhibitor, Pyrotec, is displaying two operational lines, both of which are fully integrated using CoLOS networking software from Markem-Imaje and feature the company’s on-pack product identification solutions and self-adhesive label application systems. On the first line, visitors will see a touch screen with a drop-down menu showing production data. As the operator selects a production order on the touch screen, it is sent via CoLOS to a 9410 continuous ink jet printer that prints a best before date, batch number, and 2D barcode onto the side of a hand cream container. A barcode scanner mounted on the line scans the 2D barcode and passes the information through CoLOS to a 5800 large character ink jet printer that prints a barcode linked to the initial data on the bottle. All printed information ties in with the initial batch number/barcode.

On the second line, an ALbelt wraparound label applicator applies a label to a bottle. A touch screen displays a drop-down menu with production data and, when a production order is selected on the screen, the data is sent via CoLOS networking software to a 1050 thermal Ink jet printer that prints a barcode with a best before date and batch number onto the label before it is applied to the bottle. The information with the batch number is carried via CoLOS to a C350 laser printer that prints the best before date and batch number onto the bottle’s label. The bottles travel to an accumulating table where they are packed into cartons. The cartons are then transported on a second conveyer to an ELDH labeller with a mounted 8018i thermal transfer printer, which applies a pre-printed label to the carton.

Robatech’s new FK IT 25/50/75 hot melt coating heads will be on display at Propak Africa 2016, providing more flexibility during intermittent surface coating. The new FK IT 25 / 50 / 75 coating application heads combine the proven properties of two products. The application nozzles feature the mask technology of the FK-IT with the precision and speed of the FK SX. With their new FK IT series, Robatech optimises the flexible gluing process in industrial coating applications. Robatech will also display its new drum unloader RobaDrum 200 which offers one of the most powerful drum melters in the market. Its improved melting and pump capacity ensure cost-efficient processing of hot melt adhesives in different industrial production processes.

At Propak Africa 2016, Bosch Packaging Technology will launch its Pack 301 LS (length slug) system for the efficient and flexible packaging of biscuits and crackers on edge for the southern African market. The packaging machine has been developed as an addition to the Pack Series of horizontal flow wrappers, which range from entry-level models to fully automated technologies. It is designed to help manufacturers meet the increasing market demand for biscuit wrapping together with premium product quality.

“Working closely with our customers in the southern Africa, we are seeing increasing demand for full-line automation to address growing market needs and evolving consumer demands,” says Steffen Manke, general manager, Bosch Packaging Technology South Africa. “To enable the southern African biscuit producers to get ahead of the competition and enhance flexibility, we have developed the Pack 301 LS. Its highly versatile layout configuration, fast changeovers and easy maintenance help bakery manufacturers increase adaptability and enhance their competitive advantage.”
 
Shubham Extrusion Technik will showcase the three layer lamination film processing machine at Propak Africa 2016. The machine is equipped with a vertical reverse haul-off rotation mechanism and can produce 220kg/hour output capacity. The machine will run live for the duration of the show at maximum line speed indicating its capacity. It is also equipped with state of the art taper lock 3-layer die head which offers the best film optical properties with minimum thickness variation.

PIAB will display its range of air driven vacuum pumps, suction cups and vacuum conveyors with no moving parts making them maintenance free. The new range of integrated pumps has a number of features built into one unit as well as being very efficient, compact and maintenance free. In the vacuum conveying line PIAB will be displaying conveyors that can move products as diverse as fine powders to tablets and foodstuffs such as nuts, using patented vacuum controllers so as not to damage the products. The company will be running vacuum conveyors, pick and place applications and vacuum lifters at the show.

MG SA Consulting will be showcasing packaging lines from the Marchesini Group in Italy including an overwrapper, cartoner and labeler. The company will also display an isolator and mock up clean room from Klenzaids Contamination Controls in India, and a tablet coater and a fluid bed dryer from Gansons of India.

Advanced Machinery’s newest addition to its range of CNC Machinery - The FastColour Eco-Solvent Large Format Printer, will be exhibited at Propak Africa 2016. The Large Format Printer provides excellent quality printing results with remarkably low ink consumption. The FastColour Printer is sold with Advanced Machinery’s very own manufactured Eco-Solvent ink.

Maxiflex Door Systems SA will be exhibiting its range of industrial door solutions for the manufacturing, distribution and logistics industries. The Albany high speed doors can be used for many different applications, and are ideally suited for high traffic areas where control of working environments is of utmost importance. Crawford sectional doors are hard wearing doors that will not only improve the appearance of a building but also save energy and reduce maintenance costs. Crawford docking solutions offer the dock leveler, dock shelter and other docking equipment to ensure safe and efficient loading and offloading of goods. Other products on show will be the Teckentrup roller doors and Maxiflex Strip curtains.

Other exhibitors showcasing printing, packaging and labelling include Acepak, ADE Labelling, Afripack, Bernd Triebiger Enterprises, Beswick, Bidvest Afcom, Ferrostaal, Filtec Automation, Future Packaging, Golden Era Group, Graphix Supply World, Hestico, HG Molenaar, Hostmann Steinberg SA, Inoxpa South Africa, JPak, Kamboo Marketing, MGSA, Multivac Southern Africa, Nissei ASB, Pakmatic, Pakmax, PMD Packaging, Polyoak, Presstec, Qualitechs, Rexel, Rotocon, Rubber Engineering Africa, Trempack Trading, Relloy SA, S&N Labels, Sareltech, Sarepco, Signea, Tom Tom Telematics,  Ulma Packaging Systems SA, USS Pactech, Yaskawa SA, amongst many others.

“An exciting line-up of conferences and workshops are also taking place alongside Propak Africa,” says Joshua Low, Propak Africa Event Director. “The Institute of Packaging South Africa (IPSA) Propak Africa Packaging Conference will highlight the latest industry thinking in a comprehensive packaging based agenda. Delegates will be able to gain an in depth understanding on how brand owners, retailers, converters and suppliers all work together to foster a dynamic and innovative solution-based approach addressing current market demand focused on expansion into the African region.”

IPSA will also be hosting various specialised workshops alongside Propak Africa, developed specifically for the IPSA Advanced Packaging Programme. The Plastics SA Conference will host Alex Erwin, previously with the DTI, as one of its guest speakers. Pavlo Phitidis, a regular co-host on the 702 Money show, will be running events alongside the show including a ‘Building an Asset of Value’ seminar, ‘Networking to make the deal’ and the Suppliers Den.

“Top names such as Derek Watts, Justice Malala and Alex Hogg will be discussing current economic and political trends at The GAPP Conference,” continues Low. “Techniques will be shared to improve sales and marketing efforts, entrepreneurship and business strategy. Industry experts Linda Jackson on packaging, Laurel Brunner on print, and Mike Horsten on signage will be bringing delegates up to date with latest insights. Printing SA (PIFSA) will also be running a number of training courses.”

More information is available at www.propakafrica.co.za including conference updates and costs. Visitors can also pre-register for free access to the show.