twitter Facebook Linkedin acp Contact Us

African packagers rise to challenge of increase demand

African packagers rise to challenge of increase demand. (Image source: African Review)

As featured in Decembers issue of Africa Review, business in Africas packaging sector is set to soar over the coming years and global packaging equipment suppliers are jostling to take advantage of consumer-led growth

Growth in Africa’s packaging sector is tipped to explode over the coming years and global packaging equipment suppliers are certainly keen to capitalise on the potential for consumer-led growth. As reported by Africa’s Big Seven (AB7), Africa’s biggest food and beverage exhibition, sub-Saharan Africa’s key food and beverage market grew by 18 per cent last year. Over the next 20 years, it is projected to be four times the region’s urban market growth average. Sub-Saharan Africa’s packaging growth is predicated on some of the most favourable demographics in the world: Africa has the youngest population of any continent.

According to some estimates, of its 1.2bn people, one in three is a middle-class consumer. Italian packaging machinery manufacturers association Ucima predicts that most of the world’s market growth of 4.9 per cent per year in global demand for packaging machinery to 2018 will come from Africa, second only to Asia in growth terms. Packing a high demand Much of the demand for packaging is taking place in South Africa, where the continent’s first beverage carton recycling plant was recently launched in Germiston in a partnership between the global food packaging solutions company Tetra Pak and South Africa’s Gayatri Paper Mills. South African packers are also upgrading their equipment with the introduction of all-electric blow moulding machines. Polyoak Packaging is the country’s largest rigid packaging producer with eight divisions and 32 manufacturing plants. 

Its Durban facility has operations for two Polyoak divisions: Blowpack (bottles and drums) and Lubripack (motor-oil bottles). The plant currently has four all-electric double-sided Uniloy shuttle machines and another Uniloy all-electric press has now been ordered. Since 2012, it has purchased only all-electric machines. Africa’s two other leading regional packaging markets are East Africa led by Kenya, and West Africa led by Nigeria. This summer, Ishida Europe announced its expansion into the East African food market by signing a partnership agreement with Kenya’s top packaging machine supplier Allwin Packaging International.

Ishida Europe is a leading global supplier of automated solutions. It designs, manufactures and sells individual machines and provides integrated and complete packing lines for fresh and snack food applications. The company recently introduced a new range of multihead weighers and checkweighers, which it is looking to distribute in East Africa. Allwin Packaging International will act as its agent for the region, and, together with Ishida Europe, will help to support East African food manufacturers’ growth through the effective use of automation in markets such as snacks, nuts, cereals, pulses and sugar.

The full article can be found on page 42 of December's African Review here. 

The Bell team in Richards Bay consists of more than 800 machinists, welders, and assemblers. (Image source: Bell)

GFE Power Product’s extensive range covers generators from 10 kVA up to 3,000 kVA. (Image source: GFE Power Products)

The funding is the largest-ever equity raise in the minigrid industry according to Husk. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The initiative will help African contractors participate in annual infrastructure investments. (Image source: Afreximbank)

ITS has evolved into a sophisticated systems approach, providing numerous opportunities to revolutionise road networks. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Invest International’s Lara Muller; Ivory Coast Minister of Finance and Economy, Adam Coulibaly; and Ambassador Designate to Ivory Coast, Jeroen Kelderhuis. (Image source: Invest International)

The Yellow Metal Machine Rental team with some Wacker Neuson equipment. (Image source: Wacker Neuson)

Although displaying resilience, the report warns that African banks remain exposed to physical climate risks due to both sovereign and industry lending. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

WAA and VCMI will seek to establish regulatory frameworks to enable access to high integrity and fair voluntary carbon markets for WAA member countries. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The parties will also promote the mutual exchange of information and expertise in the field of export credit policies and practices. (Image source: TBD Group)

Inside Condra’s Johannesburg factory: an overhead crane positions an electric motor during assembly of hoist and crab. (Image source: Condra)

IVECO is renewing its entire product range, all at once. (Image source: IVECO)

The MoU was signed alongside the Africa Health Business Symposium. (Image source: Africa CDC)

Both the IMF and EIU expect SSA to rank as the world’s second fastest growing economy in 2024. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

There has been a focus on the sugar industry. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Evolving concept of energy security must address energy demand, system flexibility, technology access and infrastructure development, says IRENA. (Image source: IRENA)

World Bank & African Development Bank partner to provide electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030, leveraging public-private investments. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

(L-R): Dr Diane Karusisi, CEO, Bank of Kigali and Dr Reda Helal, group managing director – processing, Africa and co-head group processing, Network International. (Image source: Network International)

At WFES, Gotion High-tech will showcase its latest products and leading green energy solutions at its booth. (Image source: Gotion High-tech)

The new Perkins 5012 is a full-authority electronic engine optimised and purpose-built for power generation applications. (Image source: Perkins)

SSAB will begin deliveries of the new products in 2026.

The key issues restricting sub-Saharan Africa’s manufacturing sector will be unpacked at Manufacturing Indaba later this year. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Through the innovative solution, each vessel can fill two tank containers on average between two ports. (Image source: Maersk)

Hyphen is developing sub-Saharan Africa’s largest, most advanced and only fully-vertical integrated green hydrogen project. (Image source: Hyphen)

According to Liebherr, the Used Equipment Marketplace is extremely user-friendly. (Image source: Liebherr)

Electricity storage will be pivotal in unlocking renewable projects and meeting energy demand. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

With RFID, assets can be given unique digital identities that enable users to identify and locate them all at once, from a distance, in real time. (Image source: Brady)

Africa Data Centres and DPA SA have broken ground on their solar farm in the Free State. (Image source: Africa Data Centres)

A Cat PM310 Cold Planer in action. (Image source: Caterpillar)

A larger stockholding of WEG products facilitates ready access for customers. (Image source: WEG Africa)