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Printing federation celebrates 100 years
The Printing Industries Federation of South Africa will be celebrating its centenary year with dinners in Johannesburg on 19 May 2011, Cape Town on 23 June and Durban on 8 September. The R45-billion industry ranks sixth in South Africa, in terms of contribution to GDP, with more than 45 000 employees through six regional PIFSA chambers and more than 800 registered company members.
Industry support for centenary celebrations
Central Chamber manager, Colin de Jager, said the membership and the 19 sponsor companies associated with PIFSA had been very supportive of the centenary celebration plans. "It is going to result in an annual dinner event to promote networking and the exchange of ideas. Our sponsor companies have really risen to the occasion in a tough economy."
The centenary event will be hosted by Derek Watts as master of ceremonies. De Jager added that bookings for the event are taking off at full steam. Because of the historic nature of the evening, the federation thought it fitting that it be open to not only PIFSA members but to anyone "operating a business within the printing industry."
The history behind printing in SA
The first South African printer, Johann Christiaan Ritter, arrived in the Cape in 1784 and brought a small press with him. In March 1911, four printing organisations met in Cape Town to establish the Federation of Master Printers of South Africa and three years later, the Central Chamber of the Printing Industries Federation of South Africa (PIFSA) was formed in Johannesburg.
"From our initial firmly planted roots in the Cape, commercial presses spread slowly to Grahamstown (1830), Port Elizabeth (1845) and to Bloemfontein and Durban in 1850," said PIFSA CEO Patrick Lacy.
"Over the 100 years, we have steadily promoted a world class, sustainable and responsible print, packaging and newspaper sector in South Africa. As a federation, we strive to protect, support and encourage the interests of our members and their customers by providing representation nationally and internationally, lobbying services, information services and an industry code of ethics and standards, among others."
He added that printing as an industry is at the forefront of technological change, with the introduction of advanced digital technologies and federation offers a wide range of services to its member companies focused on training, technology and skills development, labour dispute resolution, communications and human resources management.
