What these converter jobs cover
ThermoInk supports packaging projects where ink choice affects both how a pack performs and how it is checked on line. Some jobs focus on a clear colour change when a product reaches a set temperature, while others need security features that help confirm authenticity or protect against copying.
Most of the work starts in Jacobs, Durban, then moves by delivery to converters in Pinetown, Prospecton, Cape Town, Gqeberha, Johannesburg and Pretoria. For coastal sites in Durban and the Eastern Cape, we also factor in humidity, storage conditions and longer press runs where drying can shift through the day.
How to choose the right project page
If you are comparing jobs, look for the product type first, then the print process, then the end use. A snack pack, chilled food label and pharmaceutical carton may all need different thresholds, adhesion levels and security checks, even if the visual brief sounds similar.
- Use colour-change examples when the pack must signal temperature or condition.
- Use security examples when traceability, authenticity or anti-tamper detail matters.
- Use compatibility examples when you need a coating, substrate or finish check before full production.
- Use troubleshooting examples when the line is running but the print result needs correction.
Typical technical steps in a live job
Our project support usually begins with colour matching, threshold tuning and drawdown panels so the converter can see how the ink behaves before a full batch is committed. Where needed, we run adhesion tests, rub resistance checks and UV verification setups, then build a trial batch and support press startup if the line is ready.
For security work, Pieter van Wyk and the team can assist with security pattern design and batch retain library records, which helps when a client needs repeatability across multiple runs. That is especially useful for national packers who print in more than one province and need a stable reference for reorders.
Where the work is usually used
These jobs are common across packaging for chilled foods, health products, promotional packs, tamper evident cartons and items that need a visible cue for handling or storage. In Durban, the demand often comes from converters supplying the port area and inland distribution routes, where packs must travel through warm stores, long load-outs and changing warehouse conditions.
- Retail cartons that need a temperature cue for handling.
- Labels and sleeves for products that must show authenticity checks.
- Outer packs where visual interest must also support brand protection.
- Test runs for new substrates, coatings or finishing methods.
What to expect from a trial or production run
A trial run is normally about proving the ink on your chosen board, film or coated stock before scale-up. The team checks coating compatibility, set-off risk, rub performance and whether the colour change appears at the right threshold under practical plant conditions. If the result is close but not quite right, production troubleshooting helps adjust the mix or the process, not just the appearance.
That approach matters when a pack must perform in real conditions, not only on a sample table. A job that looks fine in a cool room can behave differently on a hot pressroom floor, so we keep the checks tied to the actual converter setup.
Working with ThermoInk on a national supply basis
ThermoInk is based in Jacobs, Durban, with supply reach into Pinetown, Prospecton, Cape Town, Gqeberha, Johannesburg and Pretoria. Jason Pillay coordinates national logistics so converters can plan around production slots, store stock sensibly and avoid last minute disruptions when a line is waiting on ink.
Because packaging work is time sensitive, we keep the project path practical: enquiry form, technical review, sample or trial stage, then production support if the job proceeds. Sibusiso Mthembu oversees the business, with Shaun October, Lindokuhle Dlamini, Pieter van Wyk and Nomfundo Khumalo handling the technical side day to day.