Starting out as a new converter is rarely easy, but Prime Packaging PLC had it harder than most. Faced with the COVID-19 pandemic beginning just a year after it was founded in 2019, the packaging converter has responded with resilience and innovation to establish itself as a leader in Ethiopia?s packaging market.

Based in Addis Ababa, Prime Packaging?s commitment to excellence has long impressed its customers through its high-quality packaging and labelling solutions. Since partnering with Edale and acquiring an FL5 5-colour single-pass carton production line, the company has expanded its offering while also creating new career opportunities for the local community.

?We found the service, machines, and team at Edale to be first-rate,? said Seife Workneh, Co-Founder at Prime Packaging. ?The installation process was smooth, the training provided was thorough, and the team has been prompt and helpful in resolving any issues.?

Journey to excellence

Prime Packaging aims to be a one-stop solution provider working at the forefront of innovation. The company has always prioritised technological advancement and embraced cutting-edge solutions to optimise its workflow, enabling it to offer a comprehensive range of products and services tailored for a diverse customer base. These products include folding cartons, self-adhesive labels, paper labels, pouches, and flexible packaging.

This commitment to innovation led Prime Packaging to Edale when the company discovered Edale?s FL5 flexographic press. However, the road to acquiring the machine was fraught with obstacles. The company?s ambitious plans were initially hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed the installation of their state-of-the-art equipment by four years while the necessary infrastructure could be put in place.

During this period, the company needed to demonstrate the same perseverance that has seen it climb to the top of Ethiopia?s packaging industry working closely with Edale to overcome any challenges that emerged.

The Edale solution

The FL5 is Edale?s most versatile flexographic printing solution. Engineered for flexibility and multiple substrate handling, the machine can run on any reel fed substrate, from thin films to thick carton board. Advanced tension control and automation support operators to quickly change print and substrates, with the end result of award-winning superior print quality.

Edale?s solutions-based approach to the development of the FL5 sees the equipment designed and built in house by its expert team around exacting customer needs. With a truly modular construction and multiple available finishing options, the FL5 provides a single-pass solution, whatever substrate is used.

Prime Packaging?s decision to invest in an FL5 was influenced by the machine?s outstanding versatility, which has enabled it to enhance its production offering. The solution has helped Prime Packaging achieve its ambition of diversifying into paper labels, as well as manufacturing high quality cartons and plastic labels. The company also plans to begin producing stickers in the near future.

The decision was also influenced by Prime Packaging?s personal connections to the UK and a desire to invest in British engineering excellence. Workneh has a personal history with the country and was excited to support a British company.

?Our children were born there, and we lived in the UK for many years,? he said. ?Buying a British machine felt like a way of honouring that connection.?

Excellence in implementation
Edale’s team demonstrated exceptional commitment by installing the equipment during the height of the pandemic. The installation process was smooth and efficient, with comprehensive training and ongoing support provided to ensure Prime Packaging could maximise the potential of its new equipment.
?The machines have performed exceptionally well, meeting our diverse needs,? said Workneh. ?Our experience with Edale has been precisely what we hoped for?a high-quality machine supported by a responsive and knowledgeable team, making our operations more streamlined and efficient.?

This partnership has quickly translated into significant results for Prime Packaging. Within less than a year of operation, the company has diversified its product range to include beer labels, flexible packaging, bottle wraps, and film products. The quality of its output has seen it partner with major brands including Heineken, BGI, Unilever, and Bavaria, positioning it among the top five packaging companies in Ethiopia.

Over the next year, Prime Packaging plans to double its production capacity, further cementing its reputation as a reliable supplier for the packaging industry and leveraging Edale?s technology to meet growing market demands.

The impact of the partnership has also gone beyond its effect on the company. By investing in itself, Prime Packaging has also invested in its local community, creating job opportunities and helping to rejuvenate the local economy.

Darren Pickford, Head of Sales at Edale said: ?The results that Prime Packaging has achieved with our FL5 are commendable. Not only has the company thrived in the face of adversity and built its profile as a leading converter, but it has also been able to expand its product offering and support its local community. This partnership is a testament to how Edale’s cutting-edge technology and unwavering support can empower businesses to overcome significant challenges and achieve success in the competitive packaging industry.?