All4Labels undergoes a sea-change

All4Labels connects brands and consumers, globally and locally. The South African subsidiary’s management team – led by managing director, Marco De Pizzol (left), and sales director, Dave Parsons (centre) – therefore, subscribes to the philosophy: the bigger the dream, the more important the team. They are supported in its implementation by Carlo James (printing), Jackelyn Naidoo (operations) and Pulane Chwene (commercial). In addition, Nick Dakusa (not pictured) is responsible for converting.

Whether we use the idiom ‘a sea-change’ or its 21st century equivalent ‘a paradigm shift’, the story is the same: a transformation is occurring at the Cape Town-based South African subsidiary of Germany’s All4Labels Global Packaging Group.

Intent on stamping All4Labels’ global footprint on the local operation is a new man at the helm, Marco De Pizzol. Although still a young man, Marco is balancing two significant portfolios: in addition to his responsibilities as director of operations for APAC and Africa, he has been named as managing director of All4Labels South Africa. But there’s no doubt he’s well qualified for these multiple duties, having been with All4Labels since 2015, holding down several global management positions.

A meeting with Marco and sales director, Dave Parsons, who has played a key role in the South African business since 2013, reveals a fresh structure and renewed impetus.
‘Now, in line with our global strategy, we intend strengthening our South African activities,’ Marco continues. ‘Since Triton’s investment in All4Labels (PPM Festive 2019), additional resources are now available to support our expansion plans.’

Marco and Dave are backed in these endeavours by a highly experienced and enthusiastic management team, including operations manager, Jackelyn Naidoo; managers respectively for print and converting operations, Carlo James and Nick Dakuse; and commercial manager, Pulane Chwene.

Enhanced technology line-up

So much for the management structure, changes are also evident in the technology line-up.
As reported at the end of last year, positive changes within the international All4Labels group following investment by equity partner, Triton, resulted in exciting investments designed to improve capacity and to reduce waste at the Cape Town plant. These included the installation of an AVT Helios S system, to improve printing consistency on a Gallus press; the purchase of a second high-speed cutting machine from HCI Converting Equipment; and a DCM ATN Sleeve3 high-speed seaming machine.

These investments, comments sales director, Dave Parsons, are now installed and in full production, further boosting the company’s market share for both pressure-sensitive labels and shrink sleeves. ‘We’ve significantly improved output while reducing waste levels,’ he declares. ‘And now we’re aiming to double our turnover in South Africa,’ he adds.

Digital business set to explode

But that’s by no means the end of the story…
While remaining thoroughly immersed in flexographic printing, it’s in the field of digital printing that the most dramatic developments are foreseen. Marco and Dave talk excitedly of driving digital transformation within the Cape Town subsidiary. In this enterprise, the local business is following the innovative lead set by its holding company. As some readers will recall, four years ago the German group purchased nine HP Indigo WS6800 and two 20000 digital presses, representing the largest labels and packaging deal in HP Indigo’s history (PPM June 2016).
As a basis for this growth in digital printing, the South African company already boasts an HP Indigo WS6800 press that’s delivering high-quality labels and flexible packaging jobs, as run lengths continue to diminish and demand for brand diversification grows.

These plans for a fast-expanding future are having another salutary effect: offering additional local employment opportunities. Recruiting is currently underway in all departments to find the right people with the right skills to fill the gaps that are bound to emerge as the business enters a serious growth phase. As always, it’s a matter of ‘watch this space’ for further news in the coming months.

Link to original article by Gill Loubser, Packaging & Print Media (PPM): https://www.packagingmag.co.za/digital/all4labels-undergoes-a-sea-change