Convex Brings Exclusive Australasian Bag Making Capability to Hamilton

CONVEX NEWS: 10 August 2009

Convex Brings Exclusive Australasian Bag Making Capability to Hamilton

Hamilton’s Convex Plastics has purchased the exclusive Australasian manufacturing rights for the unique slider closure innovation that rocket-fuelled the sales of the popular Australian Supercoat pet food brand (now owned by Nestle).

Convex established a new subsidiary company called Sliderpack Ltd on the 1st of April this year and six weeks later shifted what is believed to be the Southern Hemisphere’s largest bag making machine from its previous base in Melbourne to the former Hostess Kitchens building in Kahikatea Drive, Hamilton.

The establishment of the new company has resulted in seven new jobs and has made Hamilton the sole supplier of what Convex Plastics believes is the best reclosable packaging innovation currently available in the market place.

The Sliderpack machine, pictured here in its new home in the former Hostess Kitchens building in Hamilton, is believed to be the largest bag making machine in the Southern Hemisphere

Convex Plastics Managing Director, Owen Embling, says the purchase of the Sliderpack manufacturing capabilities was a natural progression for Convex and a good opportunity to secure and grow market share during an otherwise fairly flat economy.

Owen says, “Convex has supplied the printed and laminated Sliderpack films since the product was first introduced into Australia almost five years ago. The only thing we didn’t do was convert the bags. About 12 months ago we saw an opportunity to purchase the bag machine and manufacturing rights from the former Melbourne-based manufacturer and bring the whole operation here.”

“We are quite good at manufacturing and have good systems in place so we are confident we can deliver more efficient operations now that the Sliderpack manufacturing facility is located right next door to the Convex Plastics plant.”

Positioned as a premium reclosable packaging solution for bulk products, produce and freezer bags - Sliderpacks featuring a unique plastic clip-like closure that slides across a zipper rack at the top of the pouch.

Along with minimising spills and contamination of the packaged product, the Sliderpack zip closures seal well and are so simple to use that even the elderly can easily open and close them in one quick slide. Sliderpacks can be customised to suit specific product and application needs, and provide high quality print presentation to help maximise shelf appeal and branding.

Convex have already proven that they can produce good synergies for their clients by combining the precise converting technology of the Sliderpack machinery with their multiple award-winning printing.

Launched into the Australian market in late 2004, Sliderpacks were credited for almost doubling the sales of Greens General Foods’ Supercoat pet biscuits (now owned by Nestle) and establishing the brand as a major player in the Australian premium dry pet food market.
 
 Then in June this year Convex Plastics received industry recognition for the world class Sliderpack printing by earning a Gold Medal and its fourth New Zealand Pride in Print Supreme Award Finalist title for the Purina Supercoat Kitten food Sliderpack. The official judges comments about the Gold Medal winning Sliderpack printing were: “New Zealand flexography leads the world. Comparable to the high quality gravure work done in Japan.”
 
 Sliderpack Ltd aims to help maximise the sales and shelf appeal of their clients’ brands by continuing to produce world-class packaging of this calibre.
 
Convex sees numerous opportunities for the Sliderpacks in both New Zealand and Australia and expects to have the production facility running at full capacity within the next 18 months to two years. As it is, production is already been running 20 hours a day, five days a week, and increasing interest in the slider closure has made the future look very positive.

Owen says, “ It’s been a lot of hard work but we are pleased with the result. The purchase of the Sliderpack machinery has enabled us to maximise the value we add and focus on what we are very, very good at.”