Coleus Packaging MD Ian Victor; Nokusa Packaging MD Phillip Sathekge and Astir Vitogiannis MD Stelios Vitogiannis in front of Coleus' new PMC500 machine
Photo by: Creamer Media's Trent Roebeck
Metal crown closures manufacturer Coleus Packaging has acquired a new machine, the PMC500, for its factory in Alrode, Alberton, in order to increase its production of closures for the beer and beverage industry.
The company invested about R40-million on acquiring and installing the new machine, MD Ian Victor tells Engineering News, adding that the company’s manufacturing capacity will increase by about 20%.
The PMC500 will ensure the company’s yearly output increases from six-billion units to between seven-billion and eight-billion units, with 5 000 metal crowns produced a minute, according to Nokusa Packaging MD Phillip Sathekge, who is a 25% black economic empowerment shareholder partner at Coleus.
Further, the investment is also expected to contribute to reducing costs, as jobs will run at an increased speed, while maintaining high-quality metal crowns.
The increased speed in product output, in turn, leads to fewer customer complaints and lower prices for brewery and beverage industry customers, which will enable Coleus to gain more customers and increase its market share.
Astir Vitogiannis MD Stelios Vitogiannis says the investment was made to upgrade Coleus’ operational performance. In acquiring the PMC500, the shareholders considered the enhancement of product output, better efficiency, better consistency in product quality, internal operations and customer satisfaction, as well as decarbonisation through lower energy use.
The investment will also enable Coleus, in which Astir Vitogiannis holds a 75% interest, to better compete with global competitors.