After finishing my schooling I was not able to go to University due to financial constraints.

My first job was in a laboratory at a foundry, analysing the metal samples and calculating the adjustments which had to be made so that the batch met with a pre-determined specification.

Then a short stay in a microbiological laboratory where we cultivated the bacteria which was used to convert molasses to alcohol.

Ten years at a pharmaceutical company, started in the laboratory (wet analysis), where I set-up the Packaging Materials Quality Control Laboratory. All packaging materials where checked, down to the spelling and decimal points on the labels!

My line of study then changed from Laboratory Technician to Production Management.

I spent some time working as the production planner during which time I drafted "SOP's" Standard operating procedures for many functions related to production. (These are similar to what is now required for an ISO rating). Thereafter I worked as the Packing Buyer. This involved monitoring stocks of all packaging in relation to the production plans which worked on a period of 6 months.

We needed a blue glass bottle which had a lead-time of 6-9 months! (The only glass factory in the country, detested, changing the glass furnaces to a blue colour!

I wanted to get involved with marketing and sales. So my first job was to represent a company who manufactured aluminium pots and pans and a pressure cooker.

After 18 months I was offered the job in another division which manufactured screw caps for bottles.

A year later I was offered a job with a branch of Hoechst, to sell polythene granules.

Then after 15 months I was promoted to the job of "Market Development, PE films".

The company's philosophy was to find opportunities for PE materials which we would then develop in co-operation with the clients who either serviced that market segment, or who had the suitable equipment with which to make the "new" product.

One of my developments was the task of determining the optimum thickness of a refuse bin liner. It involved following a refuse collection truck in two demographically different suburbs in Johannesburg and analysing the reasons why a bin-liner broke, in the collection system which was operated by the council.

We used bags with different thicknesses over a period of 10 weeks.

It was here where I saw a plastic envelope and that was the catalysts which lead to the formation of Plaslope.

It took nearly 2 years of discussion and negotiation with the S.A.Post Office, for them to amend the rules which prohibited any mail to be accepted unless it was packed in paper.

Eventually in a meeting with the deputy Post Master General, I was awarded a provisional approval, subject to several conditions. (You may know that snow seldom falls in Johannesburg, with many years in between when there is no snow and when it does fall it is all cleared by the next morning! Well on my way home from this meeting, it snowed!!!!)

My initial concept was to utilise the spare production capacity at manufacturers which I was privy to from my working with them. I would therefore do the selling etc and submit the orders to the factory for production. I would then deliver the envelopes to the client.

Due to the very short lead-times which the publishers demand, my suppliers were not able to assist, most of the time. Despite me spending long hours in the suppliers factory, assisting the extrusion and printing departments, the final process on the bag-maker caused many delays.

We then invested in a bag-maker, so that I could control this section better. The product range was then expanded by making "Courier packs" and "Slip-on book covers".

The following step was to invest in a printing press, so that we could do this work "in-house".

After investing in more bag makers we invested in a two-layer coextruder, so that we could now also make the PE film in-house.

During all of this, we had to find adhesives which would perform well. This resulted in spending lots of "school fees" as we searched for suppliers in South Africa and in Europe. We ended up by sourcing from Europe as the tolerances between the batches, where within acceptable ranges.

I tried to make my own "Tamper Evident Security Tape" as I had become aware of the need for such a tape to be added to the bags which were being used as "security bags". Many clients had seen how well the adhesive was bonding to the surfaces and assumed that these bags could be used as security bags. What they did not know is that it is possible to break the bond by freezing the adhesive to minus 30C. When the adhesive returns to ambient temperature, it will stick again with the same strength as before. The Tamper Evident Tape can also be opened by freezing, BUT it leaves a visible message, which should draw the attention of the recipient, before he signs for the receipt of the item.

So, we negotiated a license agreement with a company in the UK. But they in turn did not stay abreast with the developments in the marketplace, which necessitated that I cancel the agreement and sign-up with a German, manufacturer.

Now in addition to the Tamper Evident Security Bags, we realised that there is a need for a Tamper Evident Security Seal, in the form of a self-adhesive label. So initially we worked with another company in the UK before switching allegiance to a company in Florida, USA.

I now purchase "jumbo" reels of the Tamper Evident Security label stock from Florida and have it converted into the client's requirements here in SA.

We import another type of Tamper Evident Security material from a different, German company which I convert into Tamper Evident Security Labels or Seals, using a laser engraving process. This is the same material which motorcar manufacturers use for the "VIN" plates in the car. It will fragment if attempts are made to remove it, which prevents it from being re-positioned. It has incredibly high chemical resistance and temperature properties.

In my years at Plaslope, I often received challenges to design a bag for a unique application.

I enjoyed these challenges which led to the following remarks being made by many people…

"If Jan Visser cannot make it, no one can"

It was a challenge by the largest CIT (Cash in Transit) company in ZA which lead to the formation of Deter-A-Dye Security PTY Ltd.

The CIT company was using a Tamper Evident Security Bag to move banknotes, between its clients and their banks. In an attempt to protect these bags and the money from robbers, the CPC (Cross pavement carrier) was developed. The CPC has an electronic system built-in with many sensors as well as a pyrotechnic device which causes the Tamper Evident bag to shrink and expose its contents. The dye canister then emits a "smoke" (very fine powder) which stains everything it comes into contact with.

The efficiency of this staining is very poor and the SARB (South African Reserve Bank) demanded that the industry either improve this or find alternatives.

I was asked to find a solution, which would comply with the SARB‘s new requirements, but which would still allow the use of the Tamper Evident Security Bag.

In the third meeting, I got the idea and it was patented. However there is now a different fabric which can be used instead of the film which allows the liquid dye stain to be as efficient, without the reliance on the guard's integrity as is needed in the patented bag.

Linked to this was a demand that the dye which is used must be "Indelible". No specification was available from the SARB, as to how the dye should be tested to determine that it is "Indelible". With investigation, I found a document which had been prepared by Scotland Yard. It was a "specification" which after consultation with Forensic science, chemists, was enhanced considerably and is now used as the specification in ZA, for the testing of the resistance of the dye to be washed out of the banknotes.

So with all of these challenges…. I feel that I have the ability to assist many companies, hence the decision to avail my services as a CONSULTANT!