Patriotism rules when MD Graham Finke opens his wallet. In the last two years, PPM learns, he has invested eish!-exclaiming sums in new equipment and scaling up operations to provide loyal customers with the best flexible packaging solutions and service.
And the companion companies are showing the world what South Africa is made of, with increasing exports to Europe and the United States.
During 2020 and 2021, rather than let the Covid cloud rain on their packaging parade, the Finkes opted for the tried and tested therapy of sustained shopping, buying three pouch/doypack machines, two bagmakers and the latest laser perforator for Trempak and a second HP 20000 wide-web digital press, with ancillary slitting and finishing equipment, doubling Didget’s printing capacity.
And in January 2022, these trendsetters more than doubled their modified atmosphere packaging capability with a fresh-out-of-the-box laser perforator that has added macro-perforating to an already impressive array of products and services.
The foresightedness meant that the companies could meet with ease the increased bag and pouch business that they picked up with the supply chain disruption in the east during 2021. ‘Since no plates are needed, customers incurred no additional re-origination costs to move supply from China to us,’ Lynda Finke explains.
‘Our investments have created jobs internally and enabled small entrepreneur suppliers to expand their facilities, also creating jobs and opportunities,’ Graham points out.
As sustainability is always high on the Finke agenda, Didget’s three digital printing presses are carbon neutral and generate very low setup waste, limiting the amount of scrap material to landfill. The operations also have a combined R1-million worth of solar panels and – because it’s a sound business strategy – a high-powered generator installed in November 2021 alleviates the issues caused by power outages. A waste management and sorting facility operates onsite and both companies are British Retail Consortium-accredited and supporters of extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations.
