In South Africa’s flexible packaging space, margins are thin, input costs fluctuate and lead times are unpredictable. At the same time, demand for shorter runs, smarter structures and faster turnaround continues to rise. Against this backdrop, Kampak, a Kamboo Group company, is positioning itself as a specialist supplier of packaging film tailored to evolving market requirements.
‘We made a conscious decision that we’re not going to swim in red oceans,’ says Jacques Human, managing director of Kamboo Group. ‘Rather than competing in heavily commoditised areas, we focus on where we can add real value, through technical understanding, specialised film solutions and dependable local support.’
First container to full-scale strategy
Kampak’s story didn’t begin with a grand plan but with a risk. In 2012, Kamboo placed its first container order of shrink film, a bold move when the company was still rooted in commercial print and newspaper production. That container, filled with premium European shrink material, marked the company’s first entry into flexible packaging. ‘That was the pivot. It was the first time we moved from being a traditional print business into something more aligned with where the market was going,’ Jacques recalls.
At the time, shrink sleeve production in South Africa was dominated by a handful of large converters running PVC material. It was accessible, easy to run and widely accepted. However, environmental scrutiny led to a move towards PET, which soon accounted for nearly 80% of the market.
Jacques points out that markets don’t move in straight lines. ‘We’ve recently seen a resurgence of PVC in certain segments,’ he explains. ‘Not because it’s better environmentally, but because it’s easier to run and more cost-effective for smaller converters who aren’t servicing large brand owners.’ Understanding where and why materials succeed has become central to Kampak’s approach.
The mid web segment
If shrink film was the entry point, flexible laminated structures are now a key focus area. SKU proliferation, smaller batch sizes and rapid product launches have altered production economics. Traditional wide web flexo is not always viable for shorter runs, while narrow web converters are extending capabilities through advances in press technology. The result is increased activity in the mid web segment – around 550-800mm – where agility often outweighs scale.
‘Narrow web companies are moving wider and wide web companies are moving narrower,’ says Jacques. ‘That mid web space has become the sweet spot, which is where Kampak’s laminated film offering comes into play.’
At its core are ‘triplex’ structures made up of a printable outer layer, a barrier layer (often aluminium) and a sealing layer, typically LDPE. These structures are suitable for sachets, pouches and small-run flexible packaging.
How these structures are used is also changing. Narrow web converters without reverse-printing and full lamination capabilities are adapting through surface printing with inline BOPP overlamination, effectively converting a three-layer structure into a four-layer solution.
Over time, concerns around ink migration and food safety have been progressively engineered to a manageable level. ‘With modern UV curing systems and ink compliance frameworks like Swiss Ordinance and Nestlé Guidance Note on packaging inks, that barrier has now largely fallen away,’ Jacques explains. ‘This has effectively opened the door for more players to enter the space.’
Sustainability and material innovation
Kampak takes a practical view on sustainability. Mono-material structures are gaining traction, while metallised BOPP and MDO-PE offer alternatives to foil. However, the gap between theory and reality remains.
‘On paper, mono-materials are fantastic, but the recycler doesn’t know what’s inside that structure. The loop isn’t closed yet,’ Jacques says.
Kampak is working with metallised PET (MetPET) and exploring metallised BOPP solutions that offer improved recyclability while maintaining barrier performance.
Developments in polyolefin shrink label films are also being explored, despite ongoing cost and printability limitations. ‘The industry is pushing hard in that direction, but we have to be honest about where the technology stands today,’ Jacques notes.
‘Narrow web companies are moving wider and wide web companies are moving narrower,’ says Jacques. ‘That mid web space has become the sweet spot.’
Technical partners
Kampak’s sourcing model focuses on carefully selected partnerships. ‘We don’t just pick suppliers because they’re cheap,’ says Russell Muller, national sales manager at Kamboo Group. ‘We’ve spent years building relationships, testing materials and understanding exactly what we’re bringing into the market.’
These suppliers – some of whom operate globally, with production in Asia and commercial bases in Europe – provide access to a wide range of materials, from PVC and PET shrink films to complex laminated structures.
One of Kampak’s suppliers is Termoencogible Internacional (TI), which operates from bases in China and Spain and supplies PVC shrink film, PETG shrink film, polyolefin shrink film, BOPP, CPP and LDPE film compounds.
Traceability is a priority for Kampak. ‘We want to show customers where the product comes from,’ Russell adds. ‘That’s why we’re investing in our digital platforms and technical documentation. Transparency builds trust.’
Stock, speed and backup
Kampak holds local stock, including laminated structures across Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, with the aim of reducing supply risk for converters. ‘We want customers to know there’s always a backup,’ Jacques says. ‘If something goes wrong in their production cycle, they can pick up the phone and we can support them immediately.’
With local warehousing and logistics, delivery can take place within 24 hours, reducing costly downtime risk.
Kampak operates as a technical support partner as well as a supplier. ‘We aim to be more than just suppliers – we want to be trusted advisors,’ Russell emphasises.
This includes troubleshooting, technical support and helping customers optimise processes, even when there’s no immediate sale on the table.
‘Eighty percent of the time, the problem isn’t the material. It’s application, settings or process. That’s where our experience comes in,’ Jacques says.
Kampak’s goal is to create a distinct, recognisable platform for its consumables and film business built on capability and consistency. ‘Kampak must stand on its own as a brand,’ Jacques explains. ‘But always with that thread that links back to Kamboo.’
As Kampak formalises its identity within the Kamboo Group, it is positioning itself as a more focused, technically driven offering backed by controlled sourcing and reliable local stock availability.
