Plastic & Chemical Trading

Name

Plastic & Chemical Trading

Legal name

Plastic & Chemical Trading

Website

https://plastrading.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Gauteng

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Technical Equipment and Machinery Supply: Supply of plastic manufacturing equipment and machinery sourced from international technology partners. The company acts as a technical supply partner, providing consultation, process development, and after-sales support alongside the equipment supply.
2. Technical Consultation and Process Development: Consultative sales approach providing sound technical consultation and process development services to assist customers in reaching maximum production levels.
3. After-Sales Support and Service: Comprehensive after-sales support throughout the machine's entire life cycle, including optimisation of ancillaries, upgrades, overhauls, and ongoing technical assistance.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Plastic & Chemical Trading (Plastrading) is a technical supply partner for the plastics industry, distributing and integrating internationally manufactured plastic processing equipment from world-class principals (KraussMaffei, Kiefel, HEUFT, Mold-Masters, Frigel, MHT, PET Solutions, Sikora and others) into the African market. The company offers technical consultation, process development, and comprehensive after-sales support across injection moulding, extrusion, thermoforming, reaction injection moulding, PET preform systems, and packaging hall quality inspection.

Product overview

Plastic & Chemical Trading (Plastrading) operates as a technical supply partner for the plastics industry, offering an integrated portfolio of manufacturing technologies rather than a single unified product. The core offering spans six main technology areas: Injection Moulding (KraussMaffei machines for automotive, packaging, medical), Extrusion (KraussMaffei Berstorff for pipe, rubber, sheet, profile, compound, recycling), Thermoforming (Kiefel for automotive, medical, packaging, appliance), Reaction Injection Moulding, PET Preform Systems (GZHuayan machines with MHT moulds and PET Solutions handling), and Packaging Hall solutions (HEUFT inspection technology). These are supported by ancillaries including process cooling (Frigel/Microgel), automation (collaborative robots, grippers), hot runners (Mold-Masters), and quality inspection equipment (Sikora CENTERWAVE). The company positions itself as providing complete production solutions from equipment supply through process development to after-sales support, serving manufacturers across Africa in automotive, packaging, medical, and general industrial sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Injection Moulding Solutions

Quantifiable outcome

• Adiabatic cooling systems can save up to 95% of water compared to traditional evaporative systems
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, emerging and ancillary.

• KraussMaffeicoreTechnology or IntegrationKraussMaffei is a leading global manufacturer of machines, plant, and system solutions for the industrial production and processing of plastics and rubber with more than 187 years of history. Plastic & Chemical Trading represents KraussMaffei technology in Africa, offering injection moulding machines (GX, CX, PX series), extrusion systems (ZE BluePower twin-screw extruders for recycling and compounding), and reaction process machinery. The partnership enables African manufacturers to access KraussMaffei's full technology portfolio including automation and additive manufacturing.
• KiefelcoreTechnology or IntegrationKiefel GmbH has been a leading pioneer in thermoforming since the 1950s, producing machines for processing plastic films for automotive interiors, white goods, medical essentials, and packaging. The KIR series is a world market leader in machines for blood bag production, capable of producing 1,000-2,200 blood bags per hour. Kiefel is based in Freilassing, Germany with sites in Austria, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, and technology centres in Germany, USA and China.
• HEUFTcoreTechnology or IntegrationHEUFT is a world leader in packaging quality inspection technology for monitoring and controlling the filling and packaging of beverage, food, and pharmaceutical containers. Plastic & Chemical Trading is the regional representative for HEUFT in Africa. Products include the HEUFT InLine II IXS system for empty container inspection, HEUFT eXaminer for foreign object detection, and HEUFT Spotter II for pharmaceutical packaging. HEUFT technologies offer X-ray inspection, 360-degree sidewall inspection, and inspection rates up to 72,000 containers per hour.
• MGS Manufacturing GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMGS is a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) providing the full value chain from first drawing to packaged component for pharma, diagnostics, and medtech markets. MGS operates approximately 1,500 employees across 9 sites worldwide (USA, Costa Rica, Mexico, Ireland, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Slovakia) and relies on KraussMaffei all-electric PX injection moulding machines with LRX linear robots for ISO Class 8 cleanroom manufacturing. Plastic & Chemical Trading facilitates this partnership by connecting MGS with KraussMaffei technology.
• FrigelcoreTechnology or IntegrationFrigel is a global market leader in intelligent process cooling systems with 8 production sites, 4 commercial branches, and 51 distribution service points worldwide. Plastic & Chemical Trading partners with Frigel for process cooling and chilling specialists for all production improvement processes. Products include the Ecodry 3DK adiabatic cooler (up to 95% water savings vs cooling towers), Microgel compact cooling units, Turbogel temperature control units, and industrial chillers (300-1430 kW).
• Mold-MasterscoreTechnology or IntegrationMold-Masters patented the first commercially viable hot runner system in 1963 and is a leading manufacturer of hot runner systems, side gating technology, and auxiliary injection equipment. Products include Master-Series, Summit-Series, Accu-Line, VelocityLS, Sprint, ThinPAK, Fusion, Dura+, PET-Series hot runners, and Acc-Valve precision gate technology. Also offers E-Multi auxiliary injection units, Co-injection technology, and SmartMOLD cloud-based mould monitoring platform.
• MHT (Mold & Hotrunner Technology)coreTechnology or IntegrationMHT is known as a reputable partner in the PET preform industry, providing innovation for cost-effective production, light-weighting, and upgrading current preforms. MHT works with PACTAfrica for African market access. Moulds are available for Sacmi (up to 144 cavities), Husky (up to 144 cavities with 50% output increase), Netstal (up to 192 cavities), KraussMaffei (up to 112 cavities), and Niigon systems (up to 144 cavities). Includes the patented MHTcoolMAX after-cooling solution.
• PET SolutionscoreTechnology or IntegrationPET Solutions is an international market leader for 25 years in plastic handling machinery for PET processing. Products include DR Series dryers with Twin Tower molecular sieve technology (dew point values up to -60°C), SD Series Soft Drop for gentle handling of hot preforms, and volumetric/gravimetric/liquid dosing series for efficient processing of PET with rPET.
• GZ HuayanemergingTechnology or IntegrationGZ Huayan is described as the world's second largest and fastest emerging producer of injection moulding machines for PET preforms. Plastic & Chemical Trading partners with Huayan to bring a powerfully competitive solution to the African market. Products include EcoSys-400 high-speed energy-saving injection system and Epioneer-400PET/500PET high-end electric injection moulding machines with advanced central direct-pressure mould clamping and all-electric servo melting systems.
• PACTAfrica / Pact AutomationcoreTechnology or IntegrationPact Automation is an industry leader in automation and robotics, delivering world-class automation solutions for collaborative robots and EOAT (End of Arm Tooling) solutions. COBOT KIT products include plug-and-play kits with plug-in software for collaborative grippers and tool changers, developed to adapt to different collaborative robots on the market. PACTAfrica works with MHT for PET preform mould technology. Products are sourced from Gimatic.
• Kiefel (KIR Series)coreTechnology or IntegrationKiefel GmbH has decades of experience in blood bag production and is the world market leader in machines for blood bag production. The KIR series machines can produce between 1,000 and 2,200 full blood bags with up to five connections per hour. High-frequency generators (8-32 kW output) are responsible for precision welding of blood bags using molecular vibration of PVC film poles.
• Sacmi, Husky, Netstal, NiigoncoreTechnology or IntegrationMultiple PET preform mould manufacturers supported through the MHT partnership. Sacmi IPS systems (up to 144 cavities), Husky HyPET systems (up to 144 cavities with MHT upgrade sets for up to 50% output increase), Netstal PET-LINE systems (up to 192 cavities for top-entry, 128 for side-entry), and Niigon systems (up to 144 cavities).
• SikoracoreTechnology or IntegrationSikora is a technology partner for inspection systems including the CENTERWAVE 6000, which provides continuous 360-degree radar-based measurement of plastic pipe dimensions directly on the extrusion line. The system enables automatic control to minimum wall thickness for material savings with return on investment in less than six months.
• PlasmecancillaryTechnology or IntegrationPlasmec provides mixing equipment including TRR series mixers for mixing rigid or plasticized PVC, cold mixing of polymers, concentrated master-batches, and pre-mixing of powders. Also provides COMBIWOOD HC and RV mixing plants for wood plastic composites.
• PlasticsystemsancillaryTechnology or IntegrationPlasticsystems provides centralised feeding systems and dosing solutions. Products include VLM single-phase feeders (up to 600 kg/h), powder feeders for food/pharma/chemical products, PD series suction units, Matrix centralised control systems, DM/DG volumetric and gravimetric feeders, and DVM loss-in-weight feeders. All managed by Siemens PLC systems.
• MatsuiancillaryTechnology or IntegrationMatsui provides material drying solutions including dehumidifying dryers, thermal fin vacuum dryers, thermal conduction dryers, hot air dryers, tray dryers, and PET continuous crystallisation dryers. Also provides low-speed granulators with easy-clean front-slide design.
• TRIAancillaryTechnology or IntegrationTRIA provides granulation equipment including high-speed granulators designed for safety, environmental, and hygiene standards with soundproof construction, fail-safe design, and CE marking. Supports injection moulding, blow moulding, vacuum moulding, extrusion moulding, film recycling.
• Motan-ColortronicancillaryTechnology or IntegrationMotan-Colortronic provides material handling and dosing solutions referenced in the context of KraussMaffei's DCIM (Direct Compounding Injection Moulding) technology, contributing to the material feeding systems for the single-screw extruder installation.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Arburg: German family-owned manufacturer of injection moulding machines known for high-quality precision equipment. Comparable as a leading global competitor in injection moulding—the company's largest product area—and a potential direct entrant into the African market through its own sales channels.
• ENGEL Holding: Austrian manufacturer of injection moulding machines and one of the global leaders in plastics machinery. Comparable as a competing equipment manufacturer whose products could either be distributed by Plastic & Chemical Trading in Africa or sold directly to African customers, competing with the company's principal-brand portfolio.
• Battenfeld Cincinnati: Manufacturer of extrusion equipment for pipe, profile, sheet, and film applications. Comparable as a competing equipment manufacturer in the extrusion category, which is a major focus area of Plastic & Chemical Trading and a category where it actively distributes KraussMaffei Berstorff technology.
• WITTMANN Group: Austrian manufacturer of injection moulding equipment, robots, and auxiliaries, including hot runner and process cooling systems. Comparable as a global competitor in the injection moulding and ancillary equipment space—the company's core technology areas.
• Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery: Manufacturer of injection moulding machines with strong global presence and a particular focus on electric and hybrid machines for medical, packaging, and automotive applications. Comparable as a competing equipment manufacturer in injection moulding—the company's largest product area.
• SACMI: Italian manufacturer of packaging machinery and equipment for beverages, closures, and PET preforms. Comparable as a competing equipment manufacturer in overlapping categories with Plastic & Chemical Trading's portfolio (caps, closures, PET preforms, packaging hall inspection via HEUFT).
• Coperion: Manufacturer of compounding and extrusion equipment, and a global leader in the extrusion and recycling space. Comparable because extrusion and recycling are major focus areas of Plastic & Chemical Trading (served by KraussMaffei Berstorff), and Coperion is the principal competing equipment brand.
• Husky Injection Molding Systems: Canadian manufacturer of injection moulding systems with particular strength in PET preform tooling and machinery. Comparable because PET preform systems are a major focus of Plastic & Chemical Trading (via MHT and GZHuayan), and Husky is the dominant global player that could enter Africa directly or through alternative partners.
• Milacron: Manufacturer of plastics processing equipment including injection moulding, extrusion, and auxiliary equipment (now part of Hillenbrand). Comparable as a broad-line competitor across multiple categories that overlap with Plastic & Chemical Trading's offering.
• KraussMaffei: German manufacturer of plastics and rubber machinery with 187+ years of history and Plastic & Chemical Trading's primary principal partner. Comparable because KraussMaffei could bypass the distributor to sell directly to African customers as the market grows, and represents the single largest equipment brand in the company's portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PlastradingSA

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Plastic & Chemical Trading