Plastic conveyor components manufacturer IRP Engineering Plastics (IRP) continues to invest in innovation and the development of its product range to continue offering market leading solutions to the food, beverage, packaging and materials handling industries in and around KwaZulu-Natal, IRP MD Kris Kibble tells Engineering News.

“Innovation, introducing new products and enhancing our current products range is a major factor for us as a company to stay competitive in the industry and compete with international brand suppliers.”

Kibble informs that IRP will launch three new product developments and four product enhancements this year. These developments and investments complement IRP’s strong established presence in KwaZulu-Natal, with the company boasting more than 25 years of operation in the province, says Kibble.

With almost 80 people employed, the company sustains jobs and bolsters the regional and local economy. Moreover, this forms part of the company’s commitment to produce its offerings locally, he adds.

“Supporting local manufacture is massively important to the growth of the South African economy and its manufacturing sectors. There are major benefits in supporting local manufactured brands over international brand supply, especially in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), food processing and beverage producing industries where urgent supply of conveyor spare parts is often needed to maintain production targets.”

Kibble adds that owing to the fluctuating exchange rate and lengthy shipping delivery times, keeping available stock is often a challenge for international brands suppliers and this is where IRP has a “major advantage”. He notes that the company is able to manufacture and supply engineering and conveyor component solutions on demand, “drastically reducing delivery times, and reducing and often preventing production downtime”.

The product range supplied by IRP is diverse, consisting of modular belting, conveyer components, plastic and steel slat chains, plastic wearstrips and bulk materials handling product such as elevator buckets, chute liners and sifting screens.

The company supplies all major companies in these industries operating in KwaZulu-Natal, such as African food producer RCL Group, Southern African manufacturer and marketer of FMCG products Tiger Brands, food manufacturer Premier Foods, beverage companies Coca-Cola Beverages and Shoreline Beverages, food and beverage group Clover SA, transnational food and drink company Nestlé, as well as automotive, heavy-duty and industrial products original-equipment manufacturer GUD Holdings, just to name a few, Kibble concludes.