Dela Plast moves into food packaging sector with FSSC certification
Uses skills built up during years of precision injection moulding
DELA PLAST, which took a major leap when it acquired far larger premises in early 2015, is consolidating operations by gaining ISO and other food grade compatibility accreditation.
The Pretoria injection moulding company, run by Harry Pouwels and Arend de Lange, moved to the 3000m² premises in Koedoespoort where the production room of 1300m² (previously used for clean-room production of wafer/semiconductor components) was suited to Dela Plast’s production of seed trays, storage solution systems and contract moulding as well as, now, food packaging containers and components.
Due to its dustproofing and fully isolated walls, Dela Plast wanted to make the best use of the properties of this building. The floor was upgraded to an epoxy finish for hygienic purposes. An overhead 5-ton crane was installed to load and unload moulds. A proper material feed system was implemented with mixing units removed from the injection moulding machines.
Last year Dela Plast appointed Cornelia Kerkhoff as QA/food safety manager. Since then sanitation and pest control systems have been implemented and the necessary hygiene, facility and other pre-requisite programs followed. The HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) system was introduced to prevent risks. Dela Plast aims to continually improve its systems and procedures to work towards a risk-free environment to ensure safe and high-quality food contact packaging products by being FSSC (Food Safety System Certification) and ISO 22000/4 certified.
“The first audit was on 17 August, where the focus was on the documentation system. The second and final audit was in October and we are proud that we have achieved the certification in this time,” said Pouwels.
At the moment Dela Plast produces food packaging products for a leading Italian chocolate manufacturer besides a number of other products. The aim is however to increase the food packaging sector with the FSSC accreditation.
“We believe this sector of manufacturing will grow due to the increasing demand from clients to have safe packaging material for the products they purchase for the safety of the end consumer,”