C O M P A N Y O V E R V I E W
Afrika Biopharma Plays a pivotal role in Government local manufacturing refocus Written by Matthew Staff and Produced by Craig Daniels
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A F R I K A B I O P H A R M A M A N U FA C T U R I N G ( P T Y ) LT D
The South African pharmaceutical company has made giant strides in the industry in its young life, with big plans for future development
ABM lab
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March 2015
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tarting in 2007, Afrika Biopharma (ABM) acquired facilities from previous owners Astra-Zeneca, realising the advantages that would be gained from such an investment, with a view of manufacturing pharmaceutical products and supplying to the South African pharmaceutical market. It was a fully functioning facility, up to international standards, which brought with it a fruitful contract with the previous tenants and the ability to kick-start proceedings without laying off previous employees. Executive Director, Simon Morule has a vast amount of experience with multinational companies in the industry and alongside cofounder Mr Shad Mapetla, they saw this as a perfect opportunity to build their business legacy.
H E A LT H C A R E
Continuous Improvement “The idea was to make sure our staff, out of the multinationals, could fit into our strategy of adapting and implementing quick changes to suit a more flexible environment,� Morule explains. ABM is a close knit family and this environment aids the quick development of its staff and promotes closer relationships within the local community also. For example, relationships with local universities and lecturers helps to unearth new talent, where up and coming students are given work experience, and the opportunity to join the company if they impress. This level of continuous improvement is accentuated by the in-house mentoring that also occurs once new employees join ABM, as they get the best help available from
Video tour of Afrika Biopharma
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A F R I K A B I O P H A R M A M A N U FA C T U R I N G ( P T Y ) LT D workers with international experience.
Simon Morule, Executive Director, Afrika Biopharma
Operations In terms of ABM’s processes, its supply chain works on a principle of being as efficient as possible. Batch volumes are an important consideration, while the company works on a basis of ordering specifically to customer demand. This ensures increased efficiency in terms of warehousing space, as well as cost efficiency. Procurement is geared as closely as possible towards just-in-time principles ensuring cost effectiveness and an overall smoothness
ASTER INTERNATIONAL (Pty) Ltd
A Subsidiary of the Gilaf Group of Companies, Italy Air Conditioning Engineers & Contractors Johannesburg Erf 89 Impala Road, Kelvin View Eastgate Extension 8, Sandton 2090 PO Box 1599, Kelvin 2054 Tel: +27(0)11 581 9400 Fax: +27(0)11 581 9548 or (0)86 636 1190 E-mail: aster-sa@aster.co.za
Aster International is a leading contractor for medium to large projects in the Heating, Steam, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning industry. Proudly associated with Afrika Biopharma for the Dispensary, Liquid & Creams Manufacturing & Packing plants
ABM’s state of the art machinery
of the production line. All customers have their own distribution arrangements. ABM also ensures it keeps up with the dynamism in the pharmaceutical industry technologies so as to keep abreast with world standards. Investments and partnerships A major new development in the relatively young company’s history has been the upgrade of its factory, which was completed late last year. This was built to meet the most stringent regulatory international standards. “The strategy was to attract new business from the multinationals and other South African pharmaceutical companies in South Africa that didn’t have all the facilities that meet current pharmaceutical standard,” explains Morule. “The factory has been completed and there has
“The idea was to make sure the people who come out of the multinationals had experience in terms of processes, but we had the different strategy of also being smaller and then implementing changes more quickly” – Simon Morule, Executive Director, Afrika Biopharma
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A F R I K A B I O P H A R M A M A N U FA C T U R I N G ( P T Y ) LT D
Sterile operation
been new equipment that has come along with that. Regulatory approvals can usually take a long to come through, delaying the quick transition that ABM is looking to make, and there will be a further expansion in the next two years time.�
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March 2015
Company responsibilities Alongside its quick growth, ABM also finds itself having social and economic responsibilities through its role in the industry and South Africa as a whole. There is a strong focus from ABM to make use of the latest stock control practices. This requires a healthy balancing act between the amount of stock being kept
H E A LT H C A R E
in the factory and the orders being placed, which can often be difficult when working to stringent specifications. Being a small and adaptable company has allowed ABM to respond quickly enough to such changes though. One significant social responsibility focus is to be eco-friendly. This is evident through the process of decreasing water wastage and electricity usage. Most significantly, ABM also has extensive links with the government in helping them push through a socio-economic issue such as the positive response to the government‘s local manufacturing strategy, bringing up issues such as skills development and unemployment.
Company Information INDUSTRY
Medical HEADQUARTERS
Alrode, Gauteng, South Africa FOUNDED
2003 EMPLOYEES
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Future Growth The youth of ABM brings about a unique ownership structure, in that Morule and his co-founder have overseen the entire rise from the bottom to where it is today, with plenty of aspirations for the future. He concludes: “In five year times we’d want to own one of the best manufacturing facilities in the country. We want to see ourselves as one of the credible players in the market, not just another company.” Given the development seen over ABM’s first five years, it would be no surprise if the company has achieved these goals in another five, helping local manufacturing within South Africa along the way.
PRODUCTS/ SERVICES
Pharmaceutical contract manufacturing and packaging
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Afrika Biopharma Manufacturing (PTY) Ltd. 19 Potgieter Street, Alrode, Gauteng, 1451, South Africa T: +27 (0) 11 389 8000 / E: abm@biotech.co.za www.biotech.co.za