Reaching for the stars

warehousing if required in the future. The yard can easily
accommodate large tractor-trailer vehicles, making
deliveries easy, and the area is well-served by public
transport.
‘Change is always tough,’ Deon observes. ‘No-one really
likes being out of their comfort zones, and both Knilam
and Saflite had been at their old premises for many
years. I’m pleased to say that we lost no jobs with the
move to our new site, and keeping our experienced staff
is what has helped to make the transition smoother. Our
first team gathering at the beginning of October was a
combined staff get-together as well as the launch of our
World Class Manufacturing programme, and it went off
very well.’
Knilam and Saflite service highly specialised sectors
of the market and in many instances share similar
customers. The move to a single property with combined
sales expertise is bound to create synergies for growth.
Specialised products
that make a difference
Plastic is a material that invites
innovation. Saflite and Knilam are both
leaders in packaging formats that
make a real difference locally and
internationally.
The Astrapouch, a multi-layer stand-up pouch with a global patent
registered, has taken the wine market by storm. Ideal for a product
that’s exported or transported over long distances, it’s lighter than
traditional glass bottles and takes up less space, ensuring that a
container is packed with more wine than packaging.
The Astrapouch incorporates some high-end technology to achieve
the highly decorated film finish, seal integrity and barrier properties
required to maintain the required product quality and shelf life. And
Saflite is soon to install the latest spout-insertion technology to further
progress this innovative package format.
The Astrapouch also scores high ‘green’ points, and this is
increasingly important for producers looking to export wine to
countries such as those in the Nordic region that are extremely
environmentally sensitive.
Knilam, in the meantime, has led the local fresh produce industry
on the modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) front for a number
of years. While simple in concept – MAP is about ensuring the
packaging retains the ideal conditions to keep a certain type of
produce fresher for longer – the implementation is highly scientific.
It involves assessing the respiration rate of each product, then
designing a package that can regulate the respiration rate and
thus achieve shelf-life extension.
Last year Knilam won a prestigious global award from the
International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) for a
version of their FreshWorks MAP bag for bulk mushrooms.
ASTRAPAK NEWS 5