Ampa Group
- the rebirth
Vision to be a R1-billion company by 2019 with zero shareholder loans
THE renaming of an organisation is often seen as a time of rebirth and a new beginning, bringing fresh opportunities to those with the vision to transform them into bottom-line realities. The ‘birth’ of Ampa Group has its foundation in Ampaglas, established in 1976. This year, the company’s major shareholder, Investec Bank, concluded a deal which saw Trevor Zulberg becoming an equity partner and the present CEO of what is now known as Ampa Group.
Today the group is widely acknowledged as South Africa’s leading manufacturer and importer of specialised plastics. The recent acquisition of AmpaFlex®, formerly known as Tetrathene Industries, has increased the number of divisions under the Group’s umbrella from four to five: Ampa Plastics®, Modek®, Simona®, Plexiglas® and AmpaFlex®.
Individually and collectively they deliver a diverse portfolio of plastic products to sectors that include the printing, packaging, automotive, fabrication and engineering industries; as well as professional practices such as architectural firms and quantity surveyors.
Although the Group’s headquarters are in Johannesburg, it has a strong presence nationally, with a distribution network that encompasses Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban and East London.
Ampa Plastics is an entrenched brand that not only delivers an array of polymer mixes, but also customises mixes in accordance with specific customer requirements. Modek® supplies translucent roof sheeting, whilst Simona® manufactures an extensive range of thermoplastic products.
A 49% stake in Evonik Acrylic Africa (EAA), Plexiglas®, has positioned the group to offer one of the world’s most versatile, waterproof plastics that lends itself to applications ranging from aircraft construction to structural glazing, transportation, electronics, communication, packaging, furniture, as well as lighting and solar technologies.
The most recent acquisition AmpaFlex® specialises in the manufacture of LDPE films and products to the fast-paced, competitive plastic packaging industry.
The birth of a new vision
Ampa Group CEO, Trevor Zulberg, is a visionary with the skills and acumen to spark new life into an already established business. The company’s original founders, the Piovesan family, were forward thinkers who developed flexible facilities with wide ranging capabilities. The valuable foundation they laid has enabled the present day organisation to grow its business by producing a wider range of products.
In addition, Ampa Group has been able to capitalise on the versatility of plastic to create a number of unfinished lines that allow industrial customers to reshape and repurpose items to suit their exact requirements.
Zulberg’s leadership has unquestionably rejuvenated every division. He is strongly committed to people, cutting-edge products and environmentally sound processes. From the outset he identified the group’s impressive track record for staff retention as a key strength, and placed a strong emphasis on exposing employees to continuous learning and training to ensure that their expertise keeps pace with ever changing products and technologies.
R&D is the key to innovation
“R&D is the key to innovation,” says Zulberg. “At Ampa Group, it has played a vital part in directing existing expertise towards previously unexplored areas. The results have opened untapped markets and paved the way for the creation of new products.”
By way of example, Zulberg cites the wooden and cardboard layer boards used by the packaging industry to transport fragile glassware.
“The fact that the boards are not durable means they have to be frequently replaced.” Zulberg explains. “Ampa’s plastic layer board lasts four times longer and is lighter and cheaper to transport. Rather than this being a sales pitch,” expands Zulberg, “I believe our recognition from Nampak, packaging leader in Sub-Saharan Africa, speaks for itself.”
Economic growth + environmental conservation = good business practice
From Ampaglas to Ampa Group of today, a journey of more than 40 years, the business has become steeped in the non-negotiable philosophy that economic growth is inescapably linked to environmental protection. The results of this can be seen in more environmentally-friendly plastic products that stem from manufacturing processes that create minimal waste and recycle any scrap products that occur.
Ampa Group customers are furthermore afforded the opportunity to be part of this eco-consciousness by using the company’s buy-back initiative, whereby used items are purchased for recycling. While the group saves costs on new resources, customers receive a percentage of their initial outlay, giving rise to an all-round win-win situation.
The concept of rebirth is fuelled by the adage, ‘Out with the old, in with the new.’ It is a premise that works well in the plastics industry where the group profits from businesses which upgrade by phasing out older products in favour of more effective modern ones. This is particularly evident in the roofing industry where obsolete asbestos roof sheets are being replaced by safer more efficient roofing from Modek.
The road ahead
Ongoing refinement is a key element of any revitalisation initiative. For now, the group has set its sights on a two-year plan to improve overall operations with new machinery, cheaper electricity and innovative processes.
Group expansion in Africa has been both rapid and highly successful. Ampa’s presence in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Angola, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal, Togo and Benin has provided the impetus to expand the Group’s footprint in the rest of Africa. On the home front, the group is looking to acquire increased office space in South Africa.
When one considers that Ampa Group leads the way in extruded plastics, with a product for almost every application and a whole range of products capable of being adapted for whatever purpose is required; the group’s vision to be a R1-billion company by 2019 with zero shareholder loans is certainly not an impossible dream.
