Keip Bros. Trading Company, specialists in screen, foil and pad printing equipment, training and supplies, are celebrating their 90th year milestone in business. The company was established in 1936 as an optical manufacturing business (supplying spectacle frames and grinding prescription lenses) and then added the silkscreen printing division in the early ‘70s.
The term ‘silkscreen’ was later dropped when the industry moved away from using silk mesh to the more technical and durable polyester mesh. The industry is now known as screen printing. In 1986, the company added foil and pad printing to the list of equipment and supplies.
According to Managing Director Trevor Keip, ‘The key aspects to the business’ longevity are the number of loyal customers (some of whom have dealt with the company for over 50 years) and the valued staff who have been with the company for many years. My father, Hans Keip, worked at the company for 63 years before retiring in 2011.’ Trevor Keip has been involved in the company from an early age, having worked there during his school holidays. He started working full-time in 1987 and he is celebrating 39 years with the company in July.
While Keip said digital printing technology is ‘knocking on the door’ of screen and pad printing, there is still an important place for screen and pad printing when printing on paper, wood, glass, plastic, steel, dials, promotional branded products, labels and textiles.
Keip said, ‘Just name the industry, and you’ll find there is some part of screen or pad printing involved, be it printing on stove fascia panels, glass for the motor industry, brake pads, printing on glass or plastic drinking bottles, perfume and cosmetic bottles, UV coating paper and board, architectural and component glass, plastic injection moulding products such as buckets etc. The method of screen and pad printing will live on as many industries depend on it.’
Keip Bros. Trading Company manufacture and sell their own in-house branded equipment, sourcing parts and products locally and internationally to make their machines and accessories for the industry. A huge part of the business is the supply of screen and pad printing inks, chemicals, consumables for the industry and stretching and exposing screens. The company designs and prints out artwork positives and exposes screens and cliché’s, ready for use, making it a one-stop shop.
Keip Bros. Trading Company also offers training courses at their Johannesburg offices. These are tailored for customers purchasing printing equipment as well as companies that are already in the industry but require additional advanced training.
KEIP BROS.
+27 11 835 3129/0
keip@global.co.za
www.keipbros.co.za
