DODHIA PACK AG I N G L I M I T E D

Kenya’s largest player in cardboard packaging www.dplkenya.com

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L I M I T E D

( D P L )

Close Eye on Qu KEEPING A

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Over the past five years, Dodhia Packaging has upheld a continuous improvement strategy resulting in enhancements throughout the Company’s value chain to ultimately create the best final product possible Writer: Emily Jarvis • Project Manager: Stuart Parker

riven by the increasing demand for a high quality finished product supported by a strong value-add proposition, Nairobi-based packaging manufacturer, Dodhia Packaging Ltd (DPL) continues to explore ways to differentiate itself from the evercompetitive Kenyan market. Producing a range of corrugated cartons and boxes for clients across a variety of verticals, the Company has steadily improved its quality, range, volume and capacity of products since establishment in 1974. “Five decades later and DPL is now capable of producing in excess of 2,000 tonnes a month; making us the largest player in the Kenyan cardboard packaging market,” confirms Navraj Dhillon, Director. “One of the main factors that made this possible has been our continuous improvement strategy, where we are investing in higher speed machinery through add-ons and modifications to make productivity the best it can be.” The Company’s recent partnership with Riley Packaging in Uganda further supported this strategy, resulting in DPL becoming one of the largest suppliers of corrugated cartons in East and Central Africa. An ISO 9001:2008 certified Company, DPL has a reputation for keeping a close eye on quality and customer service, conducting all the relevant checks before a product leaves the factory. “Competition in the local Kenyan market is fierce and price is a major factor for our customers. The kind of product we supply makes it very easy for a client to source it elsewhere in such a short period of time. Therefore we need to ensure our quality is always as close to 100 percent as possible and look at ways to add value for our customers,” says Dhillon. “Our success can be attributed to the principle that our customers

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deserve a quality product, timely delivery and a fair price. In order to provide this we have committed ourselves to a strategy leading to sustainable and lasting relationships involving our customers, employees and suppliers. As a result of this strategy, we are now the preferred suppliers for some of the largest organisations in East Africa.”

Changes in demand

Over time, DPL’s core product range has seen many modifications and improvements so as to continue answering both the client and endconsumers’ needs. “Cartons have gone from being just boxes for goods transportation to a way of advertising your product due to their everyday visibility,” the Director explains. “This is especially the case in Africa, where just looking around you will notice products in these cartons; from little shops on the roadside to the back of motorbikes and trucks. As a Company

Corporate citizen Dodhia Packaging Limited regularly makes contributions to the local community, with notable initiatives including the donation of water tanks, Jalaram Mandir feeding programme and fundraising for the annual Rhino Charge. Created by the Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust, a fundraising initiative to build the Aberdare Electric Fence to protect animals from poachers and protect crops, money is raised through the Rhino Charge off-road 4x4 motorsport competition held in a remote part of Kenya. Adopting a strategy of continuous improvement

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“Change “Changeisisat atthe the

we constantly look at ways to provide our clients with better designed boxes, complete with clear and colourful branding that serves to market the product towards the target audience.” As the East African market becomes more and more sophisticated, DPL expect the demand for innovative and attractive packaging to continue growing. To meet this demand, ongoing research and development (R&D) and equipment upgrades are required. Dhillon details: “The continuous improvement of our machinery is one of the core pillars of our strategy. Over the past five years, we have focused on improving our corrugators and printing machines in line with the latest technological advances in packaging. Our machines now have more automated elements which have increased our manufacturing productivity, efficiency and capability to offer customers a larger variety of carton sizes and options.” To further solidify its market position over the next two years, DPL will focus on refining the price point for its corrugated cartons in a bid to offer innovative solutions at a fair price. “The larger the manufacturing runs the more efficient the operation and the more cost-savings we can pass onto the customer. We will continue to focus on this and improve output. On the other hand, as more and more small and medium businesses popup there will be a bigger demand for smaller volume jobs. It is our job to come up with the best ways to cater for this important market that is beginning to emerge,” the Director adds.

Sustainability

Environmentally-friendly production has always been a priority for DPL and marks another core pillar of the Company’s continuous improvement, which ultimately revolves around increasing productivity and quality in

very core of evolution very core of very core ofevolution evolution very core of evolution Martin Dansky Martin Dansky “Change isallcreatures at thewould and without it; all look alike and and without creatures would look alike and and without it;it; all creatures would look alike and behave the same way.” behave the same way.” behave the same way.” very core of evolution Martin Dansky Martin Dansky Martin Dansky very core of evolution “Change isis “Change isat atthe thewould “Change at the and all creatures andwithout withoutit; it; all creatures wouldlook lookalike alikeand and behave behavethe thesame sameway.” way.”

and without it; all creatures would look alike and behave the same way.” Martin Dansky

“Change is at the very core of evolution and without it; all creatures would look alike and behave the same way”

Martin Dansky

Hi-Tech Inks would like to congratulate Dhodia Packaging on their recent and ongoing successes, and we look together to grow our partnership in the Weforward are proudto toworking be associated with Polypak to come. andyears we would like tostarting wish them continued Hi-Tech Hi-TechInks Inksisisspreading spreadingits itswings. wings.We’re We’re startingaabrand brandnew newchapter chapterininour ourbusiness business

We are proud to be associated business success and growth with Polypak andHaving we would like to wish them continued recently spread our wings across business andour growth Africasuccess to expand product and services

with withlots lotsofofpositive positivechanges, changes,such suchasasaanew newbrand brandidentity. identity.Hi-Tech Hi-TechInks Inkswill willcontinue continue totostay staytrue truetotoour ourestablished establishedvalues, values,skilled skilledstaff staffand andexceptional exceptionaldelivery deliverythat thatour our Hi-Tech Inks ishave spreading its wings. We’re starting alook new chapter our business Hi-Tech Inks isspreading spreading wings. We’re starting abrand brand new chapter inour our business Hi-Tech Inks ishave itsits wings. We’re starting abrand new chapter inchallenges business customers become accustomed to. We forward to new and customers become accustomed to. Welook forward to newinchallenges and with lots ofofpositive changes, such as new brand identity. Hi-Tech Inks will continue with lots ofpositive positive changes, such afuture new brand identity. Hi-Tech Inks will continue with lots changes, such asaasafuture new brand identity. Hi-Tech Inks will continue new successes with our and clients. new successes with ourexisting existing and clients. tototo stay true tototo our established values, skilled staff and exceptional delivery that our stay true our established values, skilled staff and exceptional delivery that our stay true our established values, skilled staff and exceptional delivery that our Hi-Tech Inks ishave spreading its wings. We’re starting a brand new chapter inchallenges our business customers have become accustomed to. We look forward toto new challenges and customers become accustomed to. We look forward to new and customers have become accustomed to. We look forward new challenges and with lots of positive changes, such asfuture afuture newclients. brand identity. Hi-Tech Inks will continue new successes with our existing and new successes with our existing and future clients. new successes with our existing and clients. to stay true to our established values, skilled staff and exceptional delivery that our customers have become accustomed to. We Durban look forward to new challenges and Gauteng Cape Gauteng Durban CapeTown Town Brunton Circle, 4 4Teakwood 1616Moody new successes with5757our existing and View future clients. Brunton Circle,Founder Founder ViewSouth South TeakwoodRoad, Road,Jacobs Jacobs MoodyAve, Ave,Epping Epping1 1

reach, Hi-Tech Inks have made lots of positive changes. But one thing doesn’t change. We continue to stay true to our established values.

Tel: Tel: Tel: Tel:+27 +271111372 3724651 4651 Tel:+27 +273131465 4650601 0601 Tel:+27 +272121532 5320323 0323 Email: Email: Email:info.jhb@hitechinks.co.za info.jhb@hitechinks.co.za Email:info.dbn@hitechinks.co.za info.dbn@hitechinks.co.za Email: Email:info.cape@hitechinks.co.za info.cape@hitechinks.co.za Gauteng Durban Cape Town Gauteng Durban Cape Town Gauteng Durban Cape Town 4 4Teakwood Road, Jacobs 1616Moody Ave, Epping 11 1 5757Brunton Circle, Founder View South 57 Brunton Circle, Founder View South 4 Teakwood Road, Jacobs 16 Moody Ave, Epping Brunton Circle, Founder View South Teakwood Road, Jacobs Moody Ave, Epping Tel: +27 1111372 4651 Tel: +27 3131465 0601 Tel: +27 2121532 0323 Tel: +27 11 372 4651 Tel: +27 31 465 0601 Tel: +27 21 532 0323 Tel: +27 372 4651 Tel: +27 465 0601 Tel: +27 532 0323 Email: info.jhb@hitechinks.co.za info.dbn@hitechinks.co.za info.cape@hitechinks.co.za Email: info.jhb@hitechinks.co.za Email: Email: info.dbn@hitechinks.co.zaEmail: Email: info.cape@hitechinks.co.za Email: info.jhb@hitechinks.co.za Email: info.dbn@hitechinks.co.za Email: info.cape@hitechinks.co.za

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Durban 57 Brunton Circle, Founder View South 4 Teakwood Road, Jacobs Tel: +27 11 372 4651 Tel: +27 31 465 0601 Email: info.jhb@hitechinks.co.za Email: info.dbn@hitechinks.co.za

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Cape Town 16 Moody Ave, Epping 1 Tel: +27 21 532 0323 Email: info.cape@hitechinks.co.za

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Androclovi Chemicals Agencies Ltd

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We would like to congratulate Dodhia Packaging on their success.

Manufacturers and suppliers of: Industrial detergents for: • Degreasing • Rust prevention and removal • Tile cleaning Surface treatment chemicals for: • Automotive & Leisure industries

PO Box 44301 – 00100 Lungalunga Road, Industrial Area, Nairobi

Industrial adhesives for: • Book binding • Labelling and lamination • Woodwork

Cell: +254 722 513 152 +254 733 513 152

Industrial adhesives for: • Oil and air filters • Ceramic tiles

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line with a reduced carbon footprint. “Made of paper and starch glue, our corrugated carton is 100 percent recyclable. Moreover, all of our waste from the production process is supplied to a waste paper collector – who adheres to a strict criteria – and converted back into paper which we buy to make more cartons. This cyclical process is not only sustainable, but

Navraj Dhillon, Director

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By next year, we would like to further increase our output by securing improved productivity and potentially making investments in new machinery

cost-effective and secures our supply of raw materials,” says Dhillon. Supporting the whole manufacturing process is DPL’s ERP system and a team of young local professionals who are pushing the business forward. Driven by production targets, the ERP software is able to ensure minimum objectives are achieved and no production time lost; while Company training results in a good culture of teamwork and building relationships with local suppliers. “Wherever possible, we like to do business with local suppliers; they play a big role in the success of our business. Paper is our biggest raw material and we procure around 70 percent locally from Kenya and Tanzania. In terms of equipment, we import from all over the world and our long-term relationship with partners gives us access to the finest quality of materials at a fair price, delivered in a timely manner,” he states.

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Adopting Kaizen across all areas of its core activities has resulted in a winning strategy that continues to stand DPL head and shoulders above the competition. Focusing on improvements to its corrugated carton product range that align with industry needs, DPL will place even more emphasis on cementing client relationships and utilising its reputation as a springboard to form new ones. Dhillon concludes: “By next year, we would like to further increase our output by securing improved productivity and potentially making investments in new machinery. We will continue to provide quality products on-time and we are keeping an open mind towards other new forms of packaging that we could offer to the market.�

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DODHIA PACKAGING LIMITED 22 Kampala Road Industrial Area PO Box 42571 Nairobi 00100 Kenya T: +254 653 10 20/1/2/3/4 E: sales@dplkenya.com

www.dplkenya.com