Desma: SA needs to play to its strengths

René Muschalle…Recycling, used correctly, offers savings without compromising performance or comfort.

Southern Africa still has promise as a footwear manufacturing region – especially if it plays to its potential strengths and doesn’t try to outcompete the East on price, Desma Schuhmaschinen regional sales manager René Muschalle said.

Although the PU moulding and robotic machinery manufacturer sells big ticket items, it’s “doing quite well” in southern Africa, he said, mentioning several business opportunities in the region.

“I strongly believe in Africa,” he said. “The whole world is suffering from cheap imports, and it will never be possible to compete with the East on price “due to totally different cost realities”.

“However, I do believe that South Africans like to buy locally made products where they can justify it, and for me, that means making better products at a fairer price.

“During one of my travels in South Africa I met a very special person and learned from her a fantastic slogan ‘In Africa, for Africa’, which ever since then was my personal motivation for all my activities.”

He also “strongly believes” SA could be the footwear production facility for the entire sub-Saharan Africa, and he even sees it as a viable supplier to the Middle East and Australia.

Desma has 3 broad product lines – machines for direct injection moulded soles onto uppers, PU unit making machines, and robotics, and he sees potential for all of them in South Africa.

“This counts for both safety and casual footwear. And in terms of the PU units, I see a huge potential for moulded comfort insoles made of PU.”

Robotics – for roughing, cementing and sole preparation – although much more accurate than hand operations, probably have less application because labour rates are fairly low, “but they could have a place for manufacturers wanting to export to Europe, or making for international brands”.

Desma has developed recycling technology for direct injection moulding which allows 15% regrind by weight to be used without affecting performance or comfort. “I personally wouldn’t use it in any kind of outsole because of wear and flex, but it’s definitely fine for midsoles and insoles.”

Desma is represented in southern Africa by PMC.