Meet the Team: Jana Venter, Technical Consultant.
Our new technical sales lead has arrived from South Africa with invaluable technical knowledge and packaging insight thanks to over two decades working in the stretch wrap industry. Now her problem-solving mindset and ability to tackle any issues head-on is creating greater packaging effectiveness and efficiency for Kiwi companies – and newfound fans of her work.
A new country and new customer base could be daunting for some technical consultants. After landing in New Zealand mid-2024, Jana Venter has quickly found her feet (and her pedals) however.
Now she’s gaining fresh local knowledge, meeting new clients, and discovering different views while out on her mountain bike. In all her efforts, be it on site or on bike, Jana’s approach remains consistent. She’s got expert vision focused on the trail ahead – and the energy necessary to power to the horizon and beyond.
We sat down to chat all things packaging with our new technical consultant.
How did you first arrive in the industry?
I was working as a FMCG sales representative in South Africa when I was approached by management to head up the sales for their new stretch wrap manufacturing facility. That was in 2002 – I’ve been in the stretch wrap industry ever since.
Can you tell us a little about your career so far?
In 2006 I was approached to join the sales team of another film company and was based in their Johannesburg branch for a year before transferring to set up the Durban branch. I was promoted to General Manager just three months after moving there. At the time, this was the 4th largest manufacturer in the stretch wrap market in South Africa. By 2016, they were the market leaders.
What have been some challenges along the way?
The biggest challenge I face in this industry is the short delivery lead times the market demands of stretch wrap. All other plastic manufacturers get two-to-three-week manufacturing lead times but stretch wrap manufacturers and suppliers are expected to always have stock on-hand.
What have been the big changes over the years?
The stretch wrap market was “ripe for the picking” when I started in the industry – growth was quick and easy. Things are different now due to more competitors entering the market and investing in new technology to keep up with one another. Stretch wrap has also become much more technical, demanding more skill and knowledge from those working in the industry.
What are you responsible for in your work?
I identify any technical wrap issues that customers, assess whether they are using the correct film for their application and identify optimisation opportunities to improve the wrapping process.
What is the secret to doing well in your job?
Doing what you say you are going to do and always following through. Customers come to rely on you, they trust your expertise.
What do you most like about the job?
Being able to apply the technical science behind stretch wrap during trials and seeing a customer’s positive response. It’s really satisfying .
What do you do to relax or unwind?
I spend a day at the Spa or try out different riding trails on my mountain bike.
“Stretch wrap has also become much more technical, demanding more skill and knowledge from those working in the industry.”
