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Tinashe Makichi Business Reporter
Local metal packaging company, Carnaud Metalbox Pvt is working towards developing its plastic packaging division as part of its long term plan to reinforce its position in the packaging industry, managing director John Van Gend said.
Acquired by Nampak Private Limited South Africa in 2002, Carnaud Metalbox is the sole supplier of metal cans, crowns and aerosols in Zimbabwe and a leading manufacturer of plastic bottles.

The company has so far injected $8 million towards growing the plastics division through acquiring new plastic packaging manufacturing lines.
“Metalbox used to manufacture metals packaging products only but due to the growing demand of plastic packaging we started developing the division. We used to have a small plastic manufacturing division before dollarisation.

“We have since improved after acquiring 10 machines to do the job, but we did not have anything for the past three years,” said Gend.
He said an additional $2 million has been secured and earmarked for a new project that he could not disclose for fear of competition.

Metalbox has the capacity to produce about three million food cans per month but the capacity is under threat from growing importation of caned products from South Africa. Van Gend said the company has been struggling with the food canning business saying it was as good as dead.

“To revive the industry, the government should restrict imports and encourage the growth of more food crops to boost the canning industry. We have over 50 years in the manufacture and supply of packaging solutions, and with the backing of the Nampak Group our products are of the highest quality and of international standards,” he said.

Carnaud Metalbox was first established in 1959 in Harare.