PRINTING SA, in partnership with the University of South Africas (Unisa) Print Production division, held an informative Educational day on 27 February at the Unisa Florida campus, where grade 10 and 11 pupils from surrounding schools were educated about pursuing careers within the printing and packaging industries.
The lecture was followed by an educational tour of the Print Production plant on the campus so the pupils could see all aspects of the printing process, including pre-press, planning, bureau, quality control, the Digital Printing Facility, litho and binding. Print Production originated in 1958 with the exclusive purpose of providing Unisa and its students with educational and general printing, catering for all academic and administrative departments.
The printing industry is changing. One of the challenges it is faced with is an aging work force and we encourage young people to join the printing industry because there are tremendous opportunities available, said Carl Pretorius, Deputy Director Print Production. He also set the facts straight about common misconceptions about the industry. People think when you print on paper that you destroy forests. The truth is that the printing and paper-making industry plants more trees than any other industry.
Tania Rhode, National Training Manager, PRINTING SA, explained to the pupils that print is integral to our lives. Print and packaging are very much apart of our lives, from toothpaste tubes to the groceries in our cupboards and billboards on highways. A life without print is unimaginable.
To reinforce this idea, pupils got to see a large display of packaging and print samples.
