Africa is currently home to five of the fastest growing economies in the world. According to a global study, the continent's economy is forecast to grow to $2.6 trillion in 2020 from $1.6 trillion in 2008, fuelled by booms in mining, agriculture and development of ports, roads and other infrastructure. This rapid economic growth is what is creating substantial new business opportunities in the region. Over the past decade, Africa’s real.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 24th November 2016

 At a time when struggling Turkish exporters are looking for ways to diversify their target markets, Africa is poised to become the new frontier market for Turkish firms as they position themselves to become major stakeholders in the region’s rapidly growing industries. Africa has recorded an annual growth rate of 5 percent over the last decade and is expected to continue this trend in the coming years. Six out of ten fastest growing.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 23rd November 2016

 Mondi Ltd. is seeking to acquire more companies making the type of flexible packaging used for items like pet-food pouches, as the South African manufacturer taps growing demand from the consumer-goods industry.   The maker of corrugated boxes and industrial bags has made four “bolt-on” consumer-related purchases in the past two years and has the appetite for more, Chief Executive Officer David Hathorn, 54, said in an.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 23rd November 2016

 For the first time in Kenya, doctors at Kenyatta National Hospital managed to separate conjoined twins.    This was one of the first such operations successfully done at a hospital in sub-Saharan Africa (see another one here), and it was possible in part because of 3D printing.   Dr Fred Kambuni, the lead surgeon, said that a 3D printed model helped his team of medics conduct the delicate spinal surgical interventions.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 22nd November 2016

 New statistics from recycling company Petco have revealed that more polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles are being recycled than are sent to landfill, with about 4.7-million bottles recycled every day. This resulted in 112 000 t of carbon emissions, as well as 461 000 m3 of landfill space, being saved.   Noting that South Africa was winning the battle of recycling plastic bottles, the company said 52% of post-consumer PET.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 26th October 2016

 Huhtamaki PPL Limited (formerly The Paper Products Ltd), a part of the Finland-based Huhtamaki group that provides consumer and specialty packaging solutions, plans to invest about Rs 65 crores for expansion and modernisation projects for its flexible packaging and labels businesses in the North East region. While the company will set up a flexible packaging plant in Assam, its subsidiary, Webtech Labels Pvt Ltd, will build a production.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 25th October 2016

 Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO) has launched a multi-million shilling packaging centre in Dar es Salaam to ease shortage package materials to local enterprises. The centre which cost 250,000 US dollars to build, is a one-stop centre of excellence in the continent which supports SMEs services.   The Finland Deputy Head of Mission in Tanzania, Mr Simo Pekkaparviainen, said they will borrow a leaf from the centre and.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 24th October 2016

 MASTERTONS Coffee and Tea Specialists are a Port Elizabeth-based speciality coffee roastery and have been pioneers in the roasting and blending of top-quality coffee since 1924.   This makes them one of the oldest, if not the oldest, coffee roasteries in South Africa! Providing a personalised service, they supply a large range of freshly roasted coffee blends and speciality grade single-origin coffees, among numerous other awesome.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 21st October 2016

 Skysat Technologies Limited, the sole distributor of Konica Minolta digital print solutions in Nigeria and Ghana has launched the first labeling printing machine in Africa. The machine, codenamed: bizhub PRESS C71cf is one of the many digital printing products of Konica Minolta and Brother that were unveiled at the ongoing 4th digital print solution expo tagged: “Exceeding Your Business Expectations,” which began yesterday at.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 20th October 2016

 Kenya's Digital Packaging Innovations (DPI) has ordered an HP Indigo 20000 digital press, the first purchase of this press on the African continent.   The press is set to be installed alongside an AB Graphics Digicon 3000 finishing unit, which will provide DPI with a complete end-to-end packaging system.   The sale was supported by HP’s local channel partner in Kenya, Elite Digital, along with its own regional.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 19th October 2016

 The printing inks market in South Africa is highly fragmented and the top six companies cumulatively accounted for more than 60% in 2015. These companies are New Africa Inks (Pty) Limited, Constantia Printing Inks, Hi-Tech Inks (Pty) Ltd., Flint Group South Africa Ltd., Hostmann-Steinberg South Africa (Pty) Ltd., and NUtec Digital Ink (Pty) Ltd. Transparency Market Research finds that the penetration of global players is likely to create.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 17th October 2016

 Striking packaging is helping South Africa-based Esse successfully launch its Esse Probiotic Serum skincare line.   Esse uses innovative production techniques, airless glass packaging and a preservative-free formula for its Probiotic Serum, which launched in 2015 as what the company says is the world's first live probiotic serum. The probiotic microbes are encapsulated and suspended in an oil base, reanimating and dividing when they.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 12th October 2016