VR Print invests in Nilpeter FA-17 to power expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa

SOUTH AFRICA – Durban-based VR Print has made a significant strategic move by investing in the Nilpeter FA-17 flexo press, reinforcing its vision of regional growth and technical leadership in premium label production.

With plans to expand into key Sub-Saharan African markets, the company aims to leverage this advanced technology to deliver high-quality, regulation-compliant labels for agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, animal health, and petroleum sectors.

With over 25 years of experience, VR Print has built a strong reputation in South Africa’s highly regulated industries.

Operating from a centralized production facility with sales offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg, the company is now poised to broaden its reach.

Growing demand for complex, multi-layered labels in East and West Africa is prompting this expansion, with an eye on agile and scalable solutions.

“At the core of our growth strategy is the need for reliable technology partners,” said Hilton Van Rensburg, Managing Director of VR Print.

“Nilpeter understands both our business and the regulatory landscape we operate in.”

The FA-17 flexo press is engineered for flexibility, high speed, and operator-friendly use. Featuring dual LED and mercury UV curing, it supports a variety of ink and substrate combinations while maintaining consistent, high-resolution print quality.

VR Print credits the FA-17 with drastically reducing makeready times, waste, and operator training challenges – a key advantage in markets where flexo printing skills are still emerging.

This investment is part of a broader trend, as African label converters increasingly adopt high-performance flexo solutions to meet global quality standards.

Similar moves have been seen with Nigeria’s Masterstroke Packages and Kenya’s Flexoworld Labels, both of which have turned to automation and hybrid presses to improve speed-to-market and meet compliance standards in export packaging.

“VR Print’s integration of the FA-17 shows how transformative smart technology can be when paired with strong operational leadership,” said Thomas Andersen, Area Sales Manager at Nilpeter.

“This partnership demonstrates how we support not just installations, but sustained growth.”

Nilpeter is reinforcing its African footprint with an expanded strategy for 2025, including trade show participation in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria. Its local partner CSM continues to support installations, service, and training across the region.

Looking ahead, VR Print is preparing to add a variable data print bar and adopt extended color gamut printing to meet evolving client needs.

Plans for satellite production in Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia are underway, aligning with regulatory shifts and increasing demand for local manufacturing.

“Our goal is to lead in compliant, high-performance labeling,” Van Rensburg noted. “This partnership with Nilpeter positions us to do exactly that – with speed, quality, and confidence.”

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