At the heart of the system is the Aluvin Secure-Grip tamper-evident security seal, which the inland division of the corporation uses to seal bags containing ‘damage returns’ from retail customers.
All damage returns are placed in tough transparent bags secured with the Aluvin Secure-Grip security seal, a polypropylene pull-through indicative seal with a 4.5mm strip, a smooth strap for easy application and a metal insert for increased security. The seals are sequentially numbered and the user’s name and logo can be printed if required.
Tiger Brand’s Inland Division operations manager, Pierre van der Linde says that the benefits have been significant.
“Recently we measured the reduction in stock loss since we started using the Aluvin Secure-Grip seals in October 2011. The exercise compared the period from October last year to January this year to the same period in the previous financial year. In the period October 2010 to January 2011 we lost 233 tons of damage return stock and from October 2011 to January 2012, after implementing the system using the Aluvin Secure-Grip seals, we lost 138 tons, an improvement of nearly 100 tons,” he says.
The damage return loss for period 2011 was 13.43 % and 7.46% for the period 2012 – a reduction of return losses of 5.97%.
Van der Linde adds that this saving is just the beginning and he foresees even better results in the future. “It’s a continuously improving process,” he says, “ and I have no doubt that this year stock losses on returning damage goods will again be drastically cut.”
Kevin Norwitz, Aluvin MD, says that he is genuinely pleased to be giving a company with the stature of this major corporation such an important service. “The returns on their investment in our seals are astronomical and as the process rolls out they will get even better,” he says. “They are a consummately professional organisation and Aluvin is pleased to be working with them on this project.”
For Tiger Brands, Aluvin was the immediate choice, and not just because it had a pre-existing relationship with Aluvin.
“Aluvin gives excellent service,” says van der Linde, and mentions specifically the high level and clarity of communication. “There is always good, clear communication from them.”
“Moreover,” he adds, “no other supplier can supply us with the product range and quality of Aluvin. Also, Aluvin’s prices are competitive and fair.”
Aluvin is the sole distributor in Southern Africa for some of the largest security sealing companies in the world and therefore has a wide range of sealing products for many applications. Its head office and factory are in Germiston with distribution centres in Durban and Cape Town.