Flexing under pressure

In South Africa’s flexible packaging sector, the pressure is relentless. Raw material shortages, shipping delays and the unpredictable tides of global supply chains are reshaping the way converters operate. 

For the Trempak–Didget group, the answer has been part foresight, part agility and part sheer tenacity. ‘We’ve had to become both strategic stockpilers and nimble problem-solvers,’ says Brenda Harris, the company’s head of marketing and new product development.

Brenda paints a vivid picture of a business that refuses to be caught off guard. ‘We keep significant amounts of raw material stock and maintain rolling forward orders for both local and imported materials,’ she explains. ‘We’ve even expanded our warehousing capabilities to mitigate the mayhem of erratic supply chains, shipping delays and general market turbulence.’ In other words, while the world scrambles, Trempak quietly builds buffers, ensuring customers aren’t left waiting.

Yet warehousing is only one side of the equation. On the production floor, Didget’s unparalleled digital printing capabilities create a different kind of advantage. ‘Digital isn’t just a technology for us – it’s a philosophy of flexibility. Digital printing allows us to provide true just-in-time solutions,’ Brenda says. ‘Customers aren’t locked into large minimum order quantities (MOQs) that drain cash flow and clog up warehouse space. Instead, we produce in ratios that match real sales, not arbitrary numbers. And when larger flexo runs make sense, the team ensures a smooth transition – delivering purpose-fit solutions at every scale.’

This shift is particularly transformative for brands juggling multiple SKUs. Trempak can match production to demand – delivering 20 000 units of a top seller alongside just 1 000 of a niche variant – all in a single streamlined run. It’s a formula that trims inventory, improves stock turns and slashes waste, all while keeping lead times enviably short. Brand owners can offer a full product range without tying up capital in excess packaging or risking write-offs on slow movers.’

Behind the scenes, the company continues to invest in converting equipment purpose-built for these smaller, faster digital runs, fine-tuning efficiencies with every new addition to the line.

Planning, though, is where Trempak’s strategy shines. The company doesn’t wait for orders to roll in but anticipates them. ‘We track sales closely and plan for customers’ future orders, often before they’ve even sent them to us,’ Brenda notes. ‘It’s about being proactive, not reactive.’ This foresight, paired with a robust substrate inventory and a culture of collaboration with both clients and suppliers, means the company can sidestep bottlenecks and keep turnaround times tight, even when global logistics say otherwise.

Automation, unsurprisingly, plays a key role, but Brenda is quick to point out that machines alone don’t win the day. ‘Automation is vital, but it doesn’t replace experience or insight,’ she says. ‘Our team’s knowledge of industry trends, customer needs and material performance is what truly allows us to stay ahead.’