Hestico: efficiency in action

‘Propak is where the conversations happen,’ says managing director Juanita Stiehler-Brits. ‘It’s where we meet with long-standing customers and global suppliers, explore new opportunities and, most importantly, showcase the technology that’s shaping tomorrow’s production floors.’

Indeed, Hestico’s stand buzzed with activity, drawing interest for its spotlight on next-generation machinery designed to tackle real-world production challenges – especially relevant in South Africa’s power-constrained climate. Among the standout innovations was the Ultra Dryer from Maguire, designed to dramatically reduce drying times and keep production moving efficiently, even during bouts of load-shedding. Another eye-catching demo was Aboni’s moisture analyser, which ensures optimal granulate moisture levels, safeguarding product quality and enabling more resource-efficient drying processes.

‘We’ve already placed several of these units,’ notes Juanita. ‘Visitors understood immediately how they could plug into their operations and deliver results.’

On the blow moulding front, Hestico also presented the advantages of Aoki’s Injection Stretch Blow Moulding (ISBM) technology – a compelling alternative to traditional extrusion blow moulding methods. Aoki’s machines produce high-quality HDPE containers with excellent stretch characteristics, ideal for sensitive sectors such as medical packaging.

But beyond the tech, the true value of Propak Africa for Hestico lay in the personal interactions – face-to-face engagement with customers and suppliers, some of whom the company has partnered with for over three decades. ‘These conversations help us fine-tune our strategy,’ Juanita explains. ‘When you see where the industry’s interest lies and how your solutions stack up, it’s a great indicator of where to push forward and where to refine.’