27-year-old Dave de Mink of Logo Print in Cape Town, recently achieved Printing SA’s Africa Print National Technical Theoretical Achiever Award sponsored by Africa Print at the annual Printing SA Gala Dinner.
The Printing SA Gala Dinner was held by the Central Chamber in conjunction with the Jamboree week of print and the Africa Print exhibition at Gallagher Convention Centre on Thursday, September 8th.
Hailing from Cape Town, de Mink, no stranger to the winning podium, took up a career in the printing industry and pursued his training through Printing SA. He started in 2013 and completed Technical Theoretical Modules 1, 2 and in 2015, completed module 3, receiving merit awards each year, and on completion of his TT 3 level, received a pass mark of 91%, which placed him at the top of his class and duly deserving of the award.
Handing over the award was Ken Leid, Printing SA’s Director of National Training and Development, and Dave de Mink pictured with Charnia Yapp, organiser of the 2016 FESPA Africa and Africa Print Expo and editor of Africa Print, who sponsored this category and donated a R5000 cheque to De Mink in celebration of his achievements. Africa Print and FESPA Africa also provided an additional R15000 to fund the education and training of a deserving and underprivileged candidate as well as a new floating trophy that will be awarded to a deserving top achiever each year.
Founded in 1911 as the Printing Industries Federation of South Africa, trading under the promotional brand Printing SA, the organisation traditionally catered to the needs of all printers, packaging manufacturers, and service providers to the industry who operated in any one of the several traditional printing processes.
In 2014, Printing SA became the 37th and only African member of the Federation of European Screen Printing Associations (FESPA). The partnership between FESPA and Printing SA became the bridging mechanism that ensured that no printer operating in South Africa, regardless of the printing methods they employ, found themselves without a ‘home’.
For members that have come on board, they benefit by having Printing SA as their mouth piece on behalf of the industry. Printing SA represents the interests of those within the printing and packaging Industry, ensuring that the industry is sustainable and that all stakeholders and in particular, members, continue to prosper. They also refer to triple bottom-line reporting, that of being profitable; ensuring due care to the environment as well as responsible citizenry.
Printing SA also hosts training for its members and those looking to make a career in the industry. On offer are Printing and Packaging Technical Theoretical Modules which are available at the Johannesburg, Cape Town and KwaZulu-Natal Chambers of Printing SA. Other courses are also available in Digital Printing, Soft Skills Training, including leadership; disciplinary hearings; labour law; account management; statutory training, etc, Printing and Packaging Management Courses, including the Wits courses and the Cape Town University of Technology National Print Management Diploma and Health and Safety Training, including basic fire fighting and first aid.
