2009: The first orders in Pinetown
Flexography Printing Co opened its doors in 2009 in Pinetown, with a small team and a clear focus on flexo-printed flexible packaging. The earliest work was centred on short production runs for pouches, sachets and wraps for businesses that needed neat presentation and dependable supply without long delays.
Those first months set the tone for everything that followed. Jobs had to be planned carefully, artwork had to be checked properly, and every order needed to leave the floor looking consistent. In KwaZulu-Natal, where heat, humidity and transport time can all affect packaging, we learnt early that good results depend on getting the details right from the start.
From the beginning, the business was built on direct contact with clients. A customer could discuss a new pack, confirm the material requirements and follow the job through print proofing and dispatch without having to repeat the brief over and over. That practical way of working still shapes how we do business today.
2010 to 2013: Building the printing process
As the order book grew, the next few years were spent tightening the production process. Artwork prep became more structured, colour matching got stricter, and the team refined the way each job moved from file to press to converting. That period was less about size and more about control, because flexible packaging leaves little room for guesswork.
We also started matching packaging more closely to the end use. Some products needed longer shelf appeal, others needed a simple pack that could be sealed, stacked and dispatched efficiently. The work included material selection, repeat production planning and more careful checking of panel layout, seals and finishing. It was steady work, not flashy, but it made a real difference.
- More consistent colour checks between reorders
- Better alignment between artwork and print-ready files
- Stronger planning for short run orders and repeat work
- Improved packing and dispatch coordination for local deliveries
2014 to 2016: Serving more industries and more towns
By 2014, the business was working with a wider mix of local brands and pack formats. Pouches remained a core product, but sachet production and wrap printing became a bigger part of the schedule as more customers needed flexible packaging for retail, sampling and portion control. The company began delivering more regularly into Durban, Pietermaritzburg and the wider KZN corridor.
This period also sharpened the importance of logistics. South African roads, traffic around Durban and load-shedding at awkward times can all affect timing, so dispatch had to be planned properly. The team worked to keep orders moving, even when the day changed unexpectedly. Sometimes a job needed an earlier collection, and sometimes a delivery had to be split to keep production on track, but the aim stayed the same: get the pack where it needs to be, on time.
As more towns came into the picture, the business became known for handling practical packaging requests with care. Customers in Ballito, Pietermaritzburg and Durban wanted straightforward answers about sizes, print coverage and turnaround, and that approach suited us well.
2017 to 2019: A stronger team and clearer roles
As the company matured, the structure of the team became more defined. Siyabonga Ndlovu led the business as Managing Director, while each department took on a clearer role in keeping the workflow moving. Sales, production, prepress, client service and logistics all became more tightly linked, which helped reduce delays and avoid unnecessary rework.
Priya Naicker took responsibility for sales support and customer discussions, Marius van Wyk managed production, Thandiwe Mkhize led client service, Jason Petersen coordinated prepress, and Lerato Molefe handled logistics coordination. That mix of experience meant clients could deal with people who understood both the print side and the practical side of packaging supply. It also made repeat orders easier, because the team knew what had worked before.
- Quicker response on packaging enquiries
- Cleaner handover between proof approval and production
- Better repeat order tracking for local brands
- More dependable dispatch planning for Durban and inland routes
2020 to 2022: Staying dependable through harder years
The early 2020s brought the kind of pressure that many South African businesses know well. Supply timing, transport interruptions and shifting customer demand all needed more attention than before. For us, the focus was on keeping production practical and predictable, even when conditions were not.
During that time, customers needed suppliers who could communicate clearly, handle changes quickly and still maintain print quality. We continued with packaging consultation, colour matching and short run orders where needed, while also keeping repeat production moving for businesses that relied on regular stock. The team learnt to plan around power cuts, municipal slowdowns and shipping delays without overcomplicating the process.
It was a useful period in the company’s history because it confirmed what mattered most. Flexible packaging is not only about print. It is also about timing, reliability and making sure a customer can get product out the door without stress.
2023 to today: A mature local supplier with South African reach
Today, Flexography Printing Co continues from its base in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, with work delivered across South Africa, including Durban, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein. The company still handles pouches, sachets and wraps for local brands, but the service offering has broadened to include packaging consultation, artwork prep, print proofing, material selection, repeat production and dispatch coordination.
What has not changed is the way we work. Every order still starts with the customer brief, then moves through practical checks before production begins. Some clients need a small trial run, others need regular supply, and many want advice on what material or format will suit the product best. That is where experience matters, because the wrong choice can slow down filling, sealing or shelf presentation, and nobody wants that.
From 2009 to now, the history of the business has been shaped by steady growth rather than shortcuts. The team has grown, the reach has widened, and the work has become more refined, but the aim remains simple: print flexible packaging that does its job properly and supports the brand behind it.