Becoming South Africa’s largest supplier of pressure-sensitive self-adhesive tape has been anything but a walk in the park for Anchor Technical Tapes. But attaining this position has also not been without a helping hand, or two.
The company, based in the industrial area of Amalgam, Johannesburg mainly imports and converts self-adhesive tape for use as standard or printed packaging tape.
The business has seen consistent growth, which was boosted after the company invested in new equipment to up production capabilities.
“The standard equipment within the company has a web width of 1.6 metres. We realised it was necessary to buy a modern machine able to handle material with wider dimensions,” says company MD Sham Maharaj.
He explains that Anchor imports material from Italy, Germany, Taiwan and the US that is then converted into the finished products at the factory.
Even though the new machinery came at considerable cost, it has helped Anchor to increase export income by 30% from countries like Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique.
In addition to doubling production output, increased customisation has allowed the company expand its range.
It was able to afford this huge investment thanks to a capital investment grant from MCEP.
And, as intended by the programme, it had an immediate positive impact on the company’s staff.
“With the equipment that we bought we really didn’t increase the number of staff. All we have done is to move from a semi-skilled to a skilled operation. Efficiencies have been improved,” he says.
“Our products are very market specific. We produce security tape for your high-value client. Then we have products with which we service the fast-moving consumer goods market. We also produce the equipment for box closing. So we provide a complete solution to our client.”