Seal Chemistry
Printing in Cape Town

For over forty years Seal Chemistry has taken the building-blocks of international technology and redeveloped the technology to meet the very different needs; application techniques; equipment, and other critical issues such as the prevailing local climatic conditions.

Seal Chemistry consists of a custom-designed Manufacturing Factory at Marianne Industrial Estate in Pinetown, Durban. There are also sales, warehousing and distribution offices in both Johannesburg and Cape Town, with sales and technical support. The Durban Manufacturing Plant’s capacity for a single shift is approximately 5 million kgs per annum. The current manufactured output is approximately 1.2 million Kgs per annum. For over five decades Seal Chemistry has taken the building-blocks of international technology and redeveloped unique technologies to meet very different needs in all spheres of packing. Unique manufacturing procedures and quality control methodologies have been internally developed to ensure the consistent delivery and performance of high-end product. The final result was based on various factors, most importantly product consistency, cost, innovation, quality and service. Among Seal Chemistry’s historical developments for BAT is a world-first, water-based coating to replace solvent-based coatings that complies with established international standards, plus an exclusive coating technology that achieves higher conversion speeds than a previously-utilised European formulation. Seal Chemistry is both ISO 9001 and BBEEE accredited, as well as a founding member of the Institute of Packaging South Africa, with on site laboratory facilities to ensure product, fully supported, and which is consistent and of the highest quality. It is also am member of the Durban Chamber of commerce. This is the critical fundamental skeleton of the company, and closely held and acted upon. This philosophy is at the core and spirit of the Company’s continued successes. Seal Chemistry is a profoundly passionate company, which believes that it far exceeds simply the sum of it’s parts. This philosophy is at the core and spirit of the Company’s continued successes in striving to add meaningful value through its technology solutions. Doug started in the ink industry as a trainee liquid ink technician in 1976, and worked for various Printing Ink companies until 1987 and joined Seal Chemistry as Technical Manager; rapidly rising to Technical Director and then Managing Director in Doug pioneered the use of offset water based coating in South Africa as well as being at the forefront of the introduction of Cold Seal & Release Lacquer systems for confectionary packaging. During his tenure at Seal Chemistry, the product mix ratio of solvent based products to water based products has altered from 90:10 to 30:70. Through her ability to be proactive and meticulous in nature, she worked her way through a wide variety of administrative functions and took on the key responsibility of the company’s raw material and finished goods stock control, a vital aspect of any successful business. As well as spending time in the laboratories, she grew a fondness and technical understanding of the Company’s products. Under the guidance of Doug Knox, and as his former PA, she gained an immense amount of knowledge of the industry generally and has been increasingly involved with internal managerial aspects of the business. Clint joined Seal Chemistry in 1992 as a trainee technician and under the mentorship and tutelage of Doug, has developed into one of the most outstanding, innovative, creative and authoritative technical figures in coating chemistry. This, combined with his enthusiasm and commitment to the business, makes him a tour de force, relentlessly developing, fine-tuning and ensuring that maximum effort is delivered when contributing to ongoing successful outcomes for Seal’s customers. Richard was involved in the audit of Seal from 1999, which gave him unique insight into the company’s infrastructures. Since then, he has overseen the implementation and upgrading of the company’s systems and has been instrumental in the company achieving its various accreditations.