Export success story for National Can (NZ) limited

Development

National Can have picked up the 1999 DHL Medium Exporter of the Year award at the recent New Zealand Export Awards evening - hosted by Trade New Zealand - having exported over 1,600 container-lots of metal packaging during the year - mostly as empty cans.

Exports have leapt by over 160 per cent from two years ago and have grown by over 1000 per cent since the company embarked on a strategy to expand their base by looking to offshore markets

during the early 90’s.

“Some years back, we researched and determined the export market segments that we want to invest in, and developed a successful marketing plan and road map to achieve this goal,” says NZ group marketing and export manager, Windsor Yang.

The metal can being manufactured today at National Can - is a high-tech

product drawing leading edge and

enabling technologies from almost every field of science and technology.

Despite very high manufacturing speeds, all food and aerosol cans are being 100 per cent tested automatically using high-speed robotic vision and other computer-enabled systems.

However, the key ingredients to National Can’s success, being dedication to the customer and innovation, can be traced all the way back to the company’s founding philosophy and culture.

The company was founded in 1954 as a friendly neighbourhood can-maker. The company survived and prospered through hard work and an eye for innovation. The company today, still has similar beliefs as it did more 45 years ago n in customer care and satisfaction, quality, flexibility, innovation, value for money and partnership.

In 1970, National Can (NZ) Limited started operations in New Zealand. Today in New Zealand, National Can has five manufacturing plants - located at Panmure, Avondale, Wellington and Christchurch. The group also operates 14 other subsidiary companies in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

They provide metal packaging products and services for paint, petroleum, chemical, building, automotive, housewares, fancy cans, aerosol, edible oil, and the food and beverage industry. Innovative plastic packaging have also been added to the group’s product range in recent years.

This year the group has also picked up two Gold, one Silver and one Bronze packaging industry awards from across the Tasman for its innovative range of tinplate and plastic cans.

“The unique branding essence behind the company name ‘National Can’ is that it has become a synonym to ‘customer care’, ‘peace-of-mind support and quality’, ‘stability’, ‘innovation’ and ‘flexibility.’”

Within the export market, National Can has positioned itself as a caring and supportive provider of products and services.

They have set up manufacturing plants in both Fiji and in Papua New Guinea.

Windsor Yang and Brian Marks in front of cans ready for export

This means of course that National Can is able to offer unparalleled on-the-ground support to their customers.

The company has a firm commitment to the environment and works hard towards developing attitudes and procedures, which will meet legislative, and community expectations for a sustainable future.

“We take an active role in reducing,

reusing and recycling wherever possible.

We play a significant role in the Packaging Council and are a co-founder of the Steel Can Association of New Zealand, which has successfully implemented steel can re-cycling recently,” says NZ general manager, Brian Marks (who is also the current chair of the Packaging Council of New Zealand Inc.).

As an entrepreneur. National Can has the ability to make an investment decision swiftly when the need arises.

“The improvements to our process have at the same time added value also to our products and services, that is, value in the eyes of the customer,” says Yang. In partnership with their key suppliers.

National Can has been developing and pioneering advanced tinplate coating, lacquering and decorating systems to enable value to be added to a standard can.

They are making full use already, of a recent NZ$B million investment in a new state-of-the-art metal sheet coating and printing plant to add value to their export

products.

Partnering has led National Can to opportunities to assist their customers to develop new markets.

The company believes that innovation and success can only come out of an environment where people are encouraged to be creative.

“Our 350-strong workforce is encouraged to work effectively as teams.

Today, they routinely form small TQM groups, to solve problems as a team. Our automation drive - coupled also with other process capability and productivity improvements - has enabled us to stay competitive within the international arena,” says Yang.

“We are also committed to build and maintain a skilled workforce because we recognise that this is at the heart of our reputation for quality and innovative products and services.”

National Can's vision and drive is to be recognised as being the best packaging supplier to their markets. “The results will take care of themselves if we fulfil this vision.” ■

A worker in the PNG plant with one of the drams that National Can produces