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Paper, Plastics, Packaging, Printing News

Company expands in key African markets

By: Robyn Wilkinson 5th May 2017 Despite challenging macroeconomic headwinds causing a slowdown in consumer spending in many African markets in 2016, packaging company Nampak remains confident of the demographic fundamentals underpinning long-term packaging growth on the continent. →

New laser source expands possibilities

14th April 2017 International laser systems provider Trotec Laser has expanded the product portfolio of the Galvo marking lasers with a new laser source MOPA. The new laser source allows expanded possibilities for users when marking metals and plastics. With the MOPA laser, users are able to also mark plastics... →

MAKING A MARK Trotec’s MOPA laser source is especially suitable for dark plastics, as its shorter pulses often produce “vivid”, lighter markings, which results in a higher contrast

Laser-coding guide dispels misconceptions, enhances technology

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 14th April 2017 Global coding and marking specialist solutions provider Markem-Imaje, represented in Southern Africa by product identification solutions provider Pyrotec, has produced a guide focusing on laser-coding technology that aims to help manufacturers meet the technical challenges commonly encountered on... →

CODING SOLUTION SmartLase is a laser-coding technology engineered by Markem-Imaje, designed to specifically meet the challenge faced on the fastest production lines

R&D capitalises on global growth

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 14th April 2017 The National Laser Centre (NLC), part of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), is undertaking a Photonics Prototyping Facility (PPF) programme and is exploring advance manufacturing technologies, leveraging on the strong global growth of the laser technology sector. NLC PPF... →

Photo by Bloomberg
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING Laser-based three-dimensional technology is mostly focused on industrial application, and presents a specific area for significant growth in the future

Mondi, Constantia Afripack reach one-billion sack-kraft-paper-made cement bag milestone

By: Natasha Odendaal 11th April 2017 In a partnership spanning decades, more than one-billion cement bags have been made from packaging and paper group Mondi’s sack kraft paper by South African packaging and bags producer Constantia Afripack. Mondi Sack Kraft Paper, Constantia Afripack’s principal supplier, supplies strong, quality... →

Sappi launches second trial demonstration plant to advance biomaterials, bio-energy strategy

By: Anine Kilian 5th April 2017 Pulp and paper producer Sappi has launched its second trial generation renewable sugar extraction demonstration plant at its Ngodwana mill, in Mpumulanga. The demonstration plant, launched on Wednesday, in partnership with Finnish pulp and paper technology supplier Valmet, will explore and... →

Success abounds in paper recycling and recovery

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 31st March 2017 Despite South Africa having less easily accessible recycling initiatives in place than in developed countries, such as recycling bins in every park or street, or systematic waste recovery at household level, the Paper Recycling Association of South Africa (Prasa) says the country’s paper... →

Sustainable industry dispels misconceptions

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 31st March 2017 Contrary to the misconceptions about the paper industry being detrimental to the environment, Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (Pamsa) executive director Jane Molony posits that the sector is “incredibly sustainable” and shows a circular economy in action. Whether made from virgin... →

York H1 profit dips as revenue rises

By: Natasha Odendaal 16th March 2017 JSE-listed York Timbers on Thursday posted lower earnings for the six-month period to December 31. Headline earnings a share and earnings a share declined from 11c in the comparable prior period to 10c in the six months under review, while profit for the period was down from the R35.4-million... →

Mondi says European Commission inspecting its Vienna office

By: Creamer Media Reporter 7th March 2017 Dual-listed Mondi on Tuesday confirmed that the European Commission is conducting an inspection at its Vienna office. In an update to shareholders, the company said it was fully cooperating with the investigation, which it understood was focused on kraft paper and industrial bags. →

Industrial effluent recovery a sustainable water solution

By: Robyn Wilkinson 3rd March 2017 With the Department of Water Affairs’ National Water Week Awareness campaign – taking place from March 17 to 23 – celebrating twenty years of water delivery for social and economic development, water treatment specialist Proxa is looking to the future of water in South Africa by developing... →

Pockets of resilience, but SA’s manufacturing outlook remains fragile

By: David Oliveira 17th February 2017 South Africa’s manufacturing sector is expected to grow by 0.5% this year and by 1.2% in 2018, according to data from economic analysis and forecast provider FocusEconomics. Financial institution Barclays’ latest purchasing managers’ index (PMI) released earlier this month indicates that the... →

Mondi appoints new CEO as Hathorn announces retirement

By: Creamer Media Reporter 1st February 2017 David Hathorn will step down as CEO of packaging and paper group Mondi on May 11. He will be succeeded by Peter Oswald, who is currently CEO of Mondi’s Europe & International division. →

Outgoing Mondi CEO David Hathorn

Engineering partnership helping to develop cheaper prosthetics

By: Schalk Burger 27th January 2017 A partnership between engineering and technology firms is being leveraged to test the design, suitability and production of affordable prosthetics for Africa using three-dimensional (3D) printing, says 3D design technology firm Solid Edge Technology business development manager Jared de Waal. The... →

MEAGAN VAN DER MERWE Van der Merwe with her 3D printed left hand, which used an open source design

Mondi to invest €470m to cut costs, expand production at Czech mill

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 26th January 2017 Dual-listed Mondi will invest €470-million on the modernisation and expansion of the Steti mill, in the Czech Republic. The project will entail the installation of a new recovery boiler, rebuilding the fibre lines, debottlenecking the paper machines and an investment in a new 90 000 t/y machine... →

Innovation, outward-looking approach will bolster industry growth

By: Nadine James 20th January 2017 The plastics converter industry needs to alter its mindset and look for innovative solutions while becoming more outward-looking to experience real economic growth, says industry body Plastics SA. Plastics SA chairperson Bernhard Mahl describes real growth as “thousands of tons of plastics,... →

OFF LINE Over the past five to ten years, the local plastics industry has stagnated, hovering between producing 1.3-million tons and 1.4-million tons of virgin material a year

Moody’s upgrades Sappi from positive to stable

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 24th November 2016 Ratings agency Moody's Investors Service has upgraded the corporate family rating of JSE-listed pulp and paper company Sappi to Ba2 (stable) from Ba3 (positive), owing to the company’s intention to repay its $400-million bond, due in 2017, from generated cash. The ratings agency further noted... →

Sappi declares first dividend in 8 years

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 10th November 2016 Paper and pulp manufacturer Sappi on Thursday declared a dividend of $0.11 for the year ended September 30, its first since 2008, when it stopped paying dividends as it grappled with losses caused by the economic crisis in Europe and falling demand for paper, as well as crippling debt. However,... →

Austrian FM highlights need for predictable regulation during South Africa mission

By: Terence Creamer 25th October 2016 Austrian Foreign Affairs and Integration Minister Sebastian Kurz used a business forum in Johannesburg this week to highlight regulatory stability and predictability as a “necessary condition” for future investment into South Africa and the rest of the continent. Kurz, 30, is Austria’s... →

Austrian Foreign Affairs and Integration Minister Sebastian Kurz

South Africa recycles more plastic bottles than it throws away

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 24th October 2016 New statistics from recycling company Petco have revealed that more polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles are being recycled than are sent to landfill, with about 4.7-million bottles recycled every day. This resulted in 112 000 t of carbon emissions, as well as 461 000 m3 of landfill space,... →

Industries should collaborate in submitting industry waste-management plans – law firm

By: Mia Breytenbach 14th October 2016 It appears industry will soon have to collaborate and share their current research and other resources to develop industry waste management plans (IWMPs), states legal services firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr. It is likely that IWMPs will not only have to comply with challenging timeframes but also... →

Photo by Bloomberg
ONEROUS MATTER? Contentious content for industry waste management plans include the way in which affected industries will prioritise reduction, reuse, recycling, and waste recovery

Astrapak strategy bears fruit as interim profit rises

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 29th September 2016 Packaging company Astrapak on Thursday reported a 25.4% year-on-year increase in its profit of R27.6-million for the six months ended August 31, while its revenue rose 15.2% year-on-year to R734-million. The increases came on the back of the company having exited all noncore businesses and... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Astrapak CEO Robin Moore

Mondi reports solid H1 earnings, despite difficult trading environment

By: Megan van Wyngaardt 4th August 2016 International packaging and paper group Mondi’s underlying earnings a share improved to 75c apiece for the six months ended June 30, up from 67.8c in the six months to June 2015. Its profit after tax increased from €313-million in the six months to June 2015, to €390-million in the period under... →

France, South Africa to foster pulp, paper industry relationships

By: Mia Breytenbach 29th July 2016 With South Africa and France being “well recognised” as key players in the international paper industry, it is essential to engage in “fruitful exchanges”, including knowledge sharing and stakeholder solutions for the industry. This is according to Ambassador of France Elisabeth Barbier, who... →

Photo by Duane Daws
IMPARTING EXPERIENCE Key industry players shared expertise, case studies and solutions at the French South African Technical Symposium for the pulp and paper industry

Computer-based training tool developed for process operators

By: Sascha Solomons 22nd July 2016 Electrical engineering services provider Matra has developed a computer-based training (CBT) tool to demonstrate how multiple variables affecting one another can be applied to any process in the chemicals and pulp and paper industries. Matra sole proprietor David Leigh highlights that the... →

COMPUTER-BASED TRAINING Is beneficial because expert knowledge of process engineers can be encapsulated in graphic format

Good-quality waste necessary for increased mechanical recycling

By: Simon Sonnekus 8th July 2016 The South African plastic industry requires a constant stream of clean, high-quality plastic waste to maintain and increase the level of mechanical recycling in South Africa. While there has been concern over the past few years that the amount of waste exported is increasing, findings from the... →

EXPORTS While exporting recyclable plastic material does bring in foreign exchange, the export of good-quality waste impacts South African recycling operations

Sustainable disposal methods to be investigated

8th July 2016 The rise in waste generated by South Africa has led to the need for responsible and environment-friendly disposal methods. According to local waste management business Interwaste sales and marketing director Jason McNeil the default method of disposal for many years has been directing this waste... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Caption: WASTE DISPOSAL Companies are being driven to innovate by changing methods of disposal

Plant-based packaging gains popularity

By: Sascha Solomons 1st July 2016 Food processing and packaging solutions provider Tetra Pak produced the world’s first package made entirely from plant materials, the Tetra Rex Bio-based, using a combination of Forest Stewardship Council-certified paperboard and certified bio-plastics materials. The company is expected to... →

Optimised packaging solution introduced to the packaging industry

1st July 2016 With the combined range of proficiency in design, mechanisation, performance packaging and shopper marketing, paper-based packaging manufacturer Smurfit Kappa launched the SKMF 146 in an effort to provide customers with the most optimised packaging machine solution. According to Smurfit Kappa the... →

OPTIMISED SOLUTION The SKMF 146 designed with the flexibility to pack multiple design formats

Horizontal flow wrapper available for Southern African countries

1st July 2016 Processing and packaging equipment supplier Bosch Packaging Technology is focusing on entry-level and mid-range automation solutions for its customers in the Southern African countries, which will enable producers with small to medium production volumes to tap into automation or increase their... →

Technology redefines warehousing

By: Sascha Solomons 1st July 2016 With labelling and barcoding being critical elements of the packaging process, companies are increasingly exploring innovative technology to unlock economies of scale and the potential of space, says beverage manufacturer and distributor ABI Bottling. “The process of getting one’s product to... →

Photo by Duane Daws
A SYSTEMS APPROACH Allows accurate real-time reporting on various activities, increasing the workflow capacity of warehouses while reducing costs

Company affirms commitment to sustainability in Africa

By: Donna Slater 10th June 2016 Executives from chemicals, materials, agrosciences and plastics company Dow reassured African clients that the company’s commitment to servicing the continent will remain and grow sustainably, as flexible plastic packaging can play an important role in spurring economic development and supporting... →

CONSISTENCY Dow aims to ensure that the quality of goods received by the end-customer is consistent

Mpact Polymers new R350m PET recycling plant to ease burden of plastic waste

8th June 2016 Paper and plastics packaging business Mpact has unveiled a new R350-million PET recycling operation in Wadeville aimed at reducing the impact of plastic waste in South Africa. →

Mpact Polymers new R350m PET recycling plant to ease burden of plastic waste

Mondi to acquire 90% stake in Turkish consumer packaging company

By: Creamer Media Reporter 2nd June 2016 Packaging and paper group Mondi will acquire a 90% interest in Turkish consumer packaging company Kalenobel for €90-million. “The acquisition of Kalenobel supports the growth of our consumer packaging business, broadening our product portfolio and geographic reach to better serve our customers in... →

Mondi CEO David Hathorn

Nampak moves to build resilience in tough market

By: Natasha Odendaal 1st June 2016 JSE-listed Nampak planned to increase its resilience in the face of challenging conditions as it entered the second half of the financial year. “Proactive and prudent” steps had been taken to reduce the JSE-listed group’s cost base and improve operational performance, while strengthening its... →

Nampak CEO Andre de Ruyter

Competition Commission sets sights on paper packaging companies

By: Creamer Media Reporter 26th May 2016 The Competition Commission on Thursday said it was investigating packaging paper products producers Mpact and New Era Packaging over allegations of collusion. A search and seizure operation of the parties’ Gauteng and Free State premises got under way on Thursday after warrants were obtained from... →

DTI identifies first five companies in industrialist programme

By: Irma Venter 19th May 2016 Government had identified the first five companies that would benefit from its Black Industrialists (BI) programme, said Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) incentive development and administration division deputy director-general Malebo Mabitje-Thompson on Thursday. Speaking to Engineering... →

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