Established in 2011, by brothers Cheldon and Jonathan Scaife, the company has remained true to its aim of becoming the preferred manufacturer and distributor to all users of cardboard cores, plastic cores and caps, pneumatic air shafts, packaging and printing consumables in Africa.
‘We seek to achieve this through creating value by providing our customers with the best and industry-leading services through the distribution of top-quality products and competitive pricing to achieve growth for all stakeholders,’ Jonathan explains.
Cheldon and Jonathan’s sound engineering background motivated them to include and develop a fully-fledged engineering department at their premises in Elandsfontein, where they offer a die-making and tooling facility and manufacture air shafts, ranging from 12.7 to 305mm.
Cheldon believes that what makes Mzansi Rolls and Labels unique in the industry is its product offering. ‘We’re the only company in Africa manufacturing cardboard cores and pneumatic air shafts – the two go hand in hand.’
Mzansi Rolls and Labels offers a variety of shafts with which to manufacture tubes of various diameters. This ensures that the tubes, cores and other cardboard packaging the team produces always meet the expectations of each customer, at the most competitive price.
Additionally, the company’s array of cardboard tubes or cores can be custom made according to customer requirements. Its specialised cardboard cores consist of a full range of composite cans made to customer specifications, which includes high-quality design and printing to cater for specific markets.
One of the other key products Mzansi has mastered is the art of custom injection moulding design and manufacturing. When companies require a lower investment for selling plastic products, Mzansi will custom design a plastic mould within the customer’s budget.
To guarantee the best service, when Mzansi receives a request to customise an order, the team manufactures a sample of the unit according to the customer’s specifications and has one of its sales representatives deliver it in person. Upon receipt of the customer’s approval, the order is fully manufactured.
The packaging and cardboard tubes in its product range can be customised in terms of length, wall thickness, strength and with different outside and inside finishes. ‘We are prepared to do whatever it takes to help customers get what they need,’ Jonathan reports.
Prioritising training and sustainability
While the business provides products and services predominantly for the packaging and labelling market, it also caters to the postal, educational, mortuary and other industries. ‘There’s a golden thread of sustainability that runs through Mzansi’s operations,’ Jonathan enthuses. ‘Our cardboard cores are recyclable and biodegradable and even the glue we use is water-based. In addition, the low-density polyethylene we use in our plastic products is all recycled.’
High-profile label printers such as Teraoka, Rebsons’ Labels, CCL Label South Africa and SA Labels are a few of Mzansi’s long list of customers. The company has also developed a sound relationship with Mpact its main paper supplier, and a long-standing and lucrative partnership with print technology supplier ROTOCON. ‘We have nurtured such a great relationship with ROTOCON’s team that we promote one another’s companies every opportunity we get,’ comments Jonathan.
Mzansi provides jobs to 80 competent and experienced staff members who work diligently to deliver products to customers in the shortest possible lead times. The company treats staff as its most valuable asset and has spent much time, money and resources in upskilling, mentoring and elevating them. Its slogan says it all Quality Begins Within, which relates to employees and core products alike.
Due to the business growing so significantly, the brothers have appointed Brenda Vermaak as CEO to introduce and implement more stringent structure, disciplines, policies and procedures.
