Serengeti and Nitto
joining forces
When it comes to adhesives, and more specifically adhesive tape, quality is measured by the level
of tack and instant adhesion. Splicing tape must work and it must work quickly. The consequences
for failure can be dire. It is little wonder then that the market has been dominated for so long by
two well-known companies. Starting in September 2014, a new player to the local market
has forged a relationship with a leading Japanese player to bring a new range of splicing
tapes to the South African printing market.
Vol 5 Issue 1 • SERENGETI AND NITTO JOINING FORCES
S
erengeti Print Supplies is a new company formed by father and son team
of Eric and Paul Philips, better known for their printing industry chemistry
and blankets company Eco Pressroom Products. Rather than simply add
a new product range to the existing portfolio, Eric and Paul believed
it would wiser to form a new company to address the printing industry with
non-chemistry supplies. There were a few reasons for this. Firstly, Eco Pressroom
Supplies is known for its range of pressroom chemistry and printing blankets,
adding another product range could result in some dilution. Secondly, the market
for splicing tapes is far broader than the applications associated with printing.
Essentially, any product which can be supplied in roll form can use splicing tape.
The only difference is the strength and the balance of adhesion, cohesion and
tackiness which may vary according to what is being spliced.
Paul commented, ‘we wanted to offer printers a cost-effective and economical
alternative to their current splicing tape. We felt certain that there must be
more than just two manufacturers of this type of product.’
Prior to forming Serengeti Print Supplies, Eric and Paul conducted extensive
investigations and searches for a manufacturer of splicing tapes. All their efforts
kept coming back to the two main manufacturers, both of whom are extensively
represented in the local market. Then, quite by chance, they were contacted by
the EMEA Headquarters office in Belgium of the Japanese company Nitto Denko
via the Trade and Investment Counsellor of Flanders in Johannesburg. It seems
that Nitto had been looking for local representation in the printing sector. The
company already has representation in the automotive and electrical markets in
South Africa. In fact, you may already use a Nitto product and not even know it,
it has a wide range of electrical insulation tape already in the local market.
Since September, the time has been used for the training of staff, development
of a stock holding and the first introductions into the market of the splicing tape
and detection tag ranges. Initially, Serengeti will be using the same staff as Eco
Pressroom Supplies, but the plan is to develop a separate staff compliment in
order to allow broader penetration into other market areas. Serengeti will also
address the same geographic region of sub-Saharan Africa which is currently
covered by Eco.
To mark the launch of Serengeti and the introduction of the Nitto range of
products, Paul and Eric hosted Eddy Buteneers, regional sales manager, and Bart
Ballet, market sales manager, from Nitto Europe on a visit to the South African
market and to meet some customers.
Eddy Buteneers, regional sales manager of Nitto Europe, Paul Philips of Serengetti Print Supplies and Bart Ballet, market sales manager of Nitto Europe.
58
I
The GAPP
magazine
www.
thegapp
.co.za
