Output of Storage Tanks Increases As Contribution to Water Conservation

Establishing a new custom moulding manufacturing facility in Cape Town

 

 

The Pioneer Plastics factory in Rosslyn with a range of its products on display along the fence.

 

Pioneer Plastics, a Tshwane-based rotational moulding company, continues to thrive after 35 years and is now increasing production at its Rosslyn plant. It is also establishing a new custom moulding manufacturing facility in Cape Town which will also enable Pioneer Plastics to expand its product rangeas well as meeting the growing demand for storage tanks for water conservation.

A particular strength of Pioneer Plastics lies in the company’s ability to manufacture custom-made products under its moto of “Anything’s Possible.” The company’s team members can assist in the design, development, and manufacture of a specific product with the use of 3D drawings and 3D printing from their design team as well as the actual manufacture of moulds from their well-equipped, in-house facility, which has two state-of-art CNC machines to make world-class moulds.

Founded by Jack Wiid in Rosslyn in 1982, the management of this healthy company is now being handed over to Jack’s sons, Wayne, the Managing Director, and Gary, the Marketing Director, with Jack holding a watching brief as Chairman.

 

 

The original rotomoulding machine, designed and made by founder Jack Wiid is still in operation at Pioneer Plastics in Rosslyn.

 

Both sons received excellent general business groundings in their previous jobs within the automotive industry. Over the years they also learned a great deal from their father regarding the rotomoulding industry to prepare them for their new positions.

“We are very proud of the progress made over the past 35 years and continue to expand the business, in terms of growing the product range, expanding facilities, and introducing the latest rotomoulding equipment,” says Jack. “Pioneer Plastics must count as one of the companies inthe local manufacturing sector producing the most diverse range of products.”

Pioneer Plastics was the first company in South Africa to produce the now-common plastic road barriers and has been responsible for a host of innovative products, which are introduced at an average rate of six to seven a month.

It has won the Association of Rotational Moulders of South Africa (ARMSA) Product of the Year award for the past six consecutive years, with the latest winner being a paediatric hospital bed.

 

 

One of the latest rotomoulding machines that has been installed as produdtion volumes have grown.

 

Besides a variety of the ubiquitous water storage tanks, Pioneer Plastics’ current range includes, litter bins, recycling bins, septic tanks, portable toilets, boat jetties, buoys, delivery bike boxes, trailer bodies, dog kennels and compost bins. Innovative lifestyle and off-roading products are especially popular and some of these are being exported around the world.

Pioneer Plastics has remained in the Rosslyn industrial area, north-west of Pretoria, although years ago there was a move from the small start-up premises to a large factory building which has now been incorporated with two, adjacent similar structures.

 

There is also a dedicated warehouse located nearby for storing the host of steel and aluminium moulds, many of them large, required for such a diverse manufacturing operation.

Jack Wiid’s entrepreneurial spirit and an ability to design and make specialist equipment proved invaluable when Pioneer Plastics was in the start-up phase. This saw him design and manufacture the company’s first rotational moulding machine, which is still providing yeoman service 35 years later.

In fact, it was only in 2005 that he found it necessary to buy purpose-built machines as demand for the company’s products increased. Recently a fourth, large rotomoulding machine was added to the production line.

 

Chairman Jack Wiid seen with a variety of products made in the highly-efficient factory in Rosslyn.

 

The production process and highly-efficient, home-grown logistics and production control, using a barcode scheduling system, as well as strong focus on quality control have kept Pioneer Plastics at the leading edge of rotomoulding in South Africa.

Management controls have resulted in the Rosslyn manufacturing plant being awarded ISO 9001:2008 certification, with a high regard for employee health and safety, which receive top level attention from the management team.

“We keep right up to date withthe latest developments in our industry by attending trade shows locally and overseas, as well as visiting factories producing similar products when we are on business trips to other countries,” explained Jack Wiid.

“What we see as an importantdifferentiator between Pioneer Plastics and our competitors is our ability to design and manufacture unique products – even low volume items – to meet customer requirements. We started out as a jobbing shop and I am pleased that we are still able to offer this type of personalised service,” concluded the Chairman of Pioneer Plastics.

 

The Wiid family management team at Pioneer Plastics (from left): Managing Director Wayne, Chairman and Founder Jack and Marketing Director Gary.

 

CONTACT DETAILS:

Website: www.pioneerplastics.co.za

Address: 5 Potgieter Street, Rosslyn, Pretoria.

Tel: +27 (0) 12 541 6000

Marketing Director: Gary Wiid

Cell: +27 (0) 72 245 5310

E-Mail: gary@pioneerplastics.co.za