Although it’s a fairly new company (in fact, just three years old), Vacufol’s executives, led by MD, Bernd Hörburger, have extensive experience in this field. According to Bernd, a key requirement for his company’s production processes is to comply with growing demands for sustainability and environmental protection, a requirement that’s met by the use of EVOH instead of traditional PVdC structures.
‘Our aim is to offer products and services that are innovative and modern, and to provide customers with the kind of support that meets their high expectations for quality,’ he explains. ‘We place high priority on the use of superior technology and co-operation with the best partners,’ he adds.
And that is how he views his South African agents at Cibapac, who have been acting as Vacufol’s South African sales arm for the last year. ‘They’re partners, not just distributors,’ Bernd insists.
He’s extremely pleased with the way that South African food producers – thanks to Cibapac’s efforts – are starting to accept the idea of EVOH, which he acknowledges is ‘pioneering work’ right now.
Adds Ivan Ortlepp, MD of Cibapac, ‘We started by marketing the EVOH-based shrink bags, and are busy building credibility for this product locally. In fact, we have already gained several customers among local meat and cheese packers, and we’re conducting ongoing trials both in South Africa and as far afield as Botswana and Namibia. Vacufol’s nine-layer shrink bags are made using the latest, state-of-the-art technology to enhance shelf life and product appearance. The bags, in line with worldwide trends, are PVdC free.’
Cibapac is already well-established in the meat and fresh produce packaging sectors and is a market leader in several areas. Additionally, the company’s Montague Gardens factory is BRC (British Retail Consortium) certified, underlining the commitment to rigorous international standards of quality and safety management.
Vacufol is also SAI Global and BRC/IoP certified, so it seems the two companies are cut from the same cloth, with their matching focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility.
