⎪ Products and industry news ⎪
Allmech recognised at global Runxin conference Allmech managing director Lionel Maasdorp recently attended the Runxin International Conference in China. This event brought together distributors and agents from 144 countries to mark Runxin’s 25th anniversary and showcase new developments in control valve technology.
Allmech, a leading South African manu- facturer of boilers and supplier of water treatment equipment and chemicals, at- tends the conference annually. Maasdorp says the 2025 meeting highlighted Runxin’s long-standing commitment to affordable access to clean drinking water and the strength of its global partner network. “What stood out most was the depth of the relationships,” he says. “There is a real sense of trust and mutual benefit between Runxin, its management and staff, and its international agent base. During the cel- ebrations, Runxin acknowledged its very first appointed agents who believed in the company from the beginning.” During the event, Allmech was named one of just 18 agents worldwide to receive Runxin’s Best Empowered Company award. “It came as a surprise and was received with gratitude,” says Maasdorp. “The award reaf-
Runxin plans to expand production capacity, to improve lead times and create new solution opportunities for South Africa and the region.
firms Runxin’s commitment to Allmech as its South African agent and recognises the work we do in promoting their full product range, from household softeners and home reverse osmosis (RO) units to industrial valves, filters and ceramic core ball valves.” Beyond the recognition, the conference offered valuable opportunities to share insights with peers from around the world, explore best practices and engage with biopolymer units have been deployed, re- placing approximately 80% of conventional polypropylene packaging at the site. This marked the first time a bio-based carrier had been implemented at scale within RS Group. It demonstrates that sustainable alterna- tives can meet the performance demands of electronics distribution while significantly reducing single-use plastic. Another major step forward has been the introduction of paper-based sealing tape at RS Group’s Bad Hersfeld and Beauvais distribution centres in Europe. Developed in partnership with Tesa, the FSC-certified tape enables cartons to be recycled with- out removing plastic sealing, improving recyclability while maintaining operational efficiency and a high-quality unboxing experience. Following successful adoption, the paper tape solution is being rolled out more widely across the Group’s EMEA distribution net- work, supporting the long-term ambition to eliminate unnecessary plastic from packag- ing operations. RS Group has also replaced traditional plastic infill materials with paper-based alternatives across applicable packing areas in the UK. The initiative has removed an
new product developments. “Being part of a movement focused on delivering clean, drinkable water at an affordable price is important to us,” Maasdorp adds. “Runxin continues to innovate, and with plans to expand production capacity, we expect improved lead times and new solu- tion opportunities for South Africa and the region in 2026,” he concludes. www.allmech.co.za estimated 15 tonnes of plastic, while main- taining packaging integrity and ensuring products arrive safely and securely. The paper infill contains 50% recycled content, is FSC certified, and has been designed to integrate seamlessly into ex- isting packing processes, reinforcing the principle that sustainability improvements should not compromise reliability or service quality. While these initiatives have been imple- mented in other regions, they play a critical role in shaping RS South Africa’s approach to sustainable packaging. By drawing on global experience and proven solutions, RS South Africa can assess how similar principles can be applied locally, taking into account market needs, operational require- ments and national sustainability priorities. “Sustainable packaging is no longer optional; it’s essential. At RS South Africa, we are accelerating this transition by implementing solutions that have already demonstrated success globally, ensuring our customers can rely on packaging that is both responsible and efficient,” says De Wet Joubert, Operations & Strategic Projects Director at RS South Africa. https://za.rs-online.com/web/
RS adopts sustainable packaging As part of the Plastic Out programme led by the RS Group, RS South Africa is align- ing with a global drive to reduce plastic waste. The initiative forms a key pillar of the Group’s 2030 ESG action plan, which aims to reduce emissions, minimise waste and transform packaging across its international operations and value chain.
As customer expectations around sus- tainability continue to rise, RS is rethinking how packaging is designed, sourced and used, ensuring that environmental respon- sibility goes hand in hand with operational efficiency and product protection. For South African customers, this global programme provides access to proven, scalable ap- proaches to more sustainable packaging that support their own ESG ambitions. One of the most significant milestones in the Plastic Out programme has been the introduction of bio-based polymer carri- ers for electronics distribution from RS Group’s Corby site in the UK. Developed in partnership with Chestnut Biopolymers Ltd., the material is produced by fermenting sugars and blending them using patented technology to deliver strength and durabil- ity without generating microplastic waste. Since mid-2025, more than 100 000
44 ¦ MechChem Africa • March-April 2026
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