First stand-alone toolshop for thinwalled injection moulds in South Africa Moulds are used by the (plastic) packaging industry in injection moulding machines for producing e.g. plastic pots, cups, lids etc. Many of these plastic products can be found in supermarkets for the packaging of food-products.Although the South African packaging market is well developed, the mould-making industry is still an underdeveloped sub-sector in the entire packaging supply chain in South Africa.Considering their long-term relationship and matching ambitions and strategy, Dutch mould-maker Van den Brink B.V. and its South African client Topline Tooling Ltd, recognised their good match to successfully start a stand-alone toolshop in South Africa able to produce and refurbish complex injection moulds of high quality.This project will result in added value to the South African packaging supply chain in general and develop the mould-making industry in particular. South African moulders, who currently strongly depend on foreign (= distant) toolshops for their complex and expensive injection moulds, will find an alternative manufacturer nearby.For knowledge partner Van den Brink the project will lead to a solid position on the South African market, which fits in their strategy: a similar project is being implemented by Van Den Brink in the Russian Federation.The joint venture between Van den Brink and Topline Tooling will contract 11 new high-level full-time employees and equip a modern toolshop able to stand on its own. Once this pilot project is in operation and successful, the partners will further invest in the joint venture to be able to manufacture bigger volumes and develop its position in the South African plastic packaging industry and other (emerging) markets in the Southern Hemisphere.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)The joint venture will take over the ISO 9001 certification from the old Topline Tooling. In South Africa Topline Tooling qualifies as a small company and should consequently contribute to 4 out of the 7 BEE elements. In this context the company shall implement:1. Employment equity: Implement a pro-active recruitment policy in order to have at least 50% black employees.2. Skills development: The stand-alone toolshop will spend at least 2% of the skills development levy on a training for black employees.3. Enterprise development: The stand-alone toolshop will spend at least 2% of the Nett Profit After Tax (NPAT) on enterprise development.4. Socio-economic development: The stand-alone toolshop will spend at least 1% of the NPAT on a social programme.Impact•	Employment and working conditionsDuring the pilot period Topline Tooling will create 11 new full-time jobs. Two years after the project the toolshop will contract and train 10 extra full-time employees. Finally, in year 7, 60 full-time jobs will have been created.The minimum wage in urban areas is ZAR 12,492 (approximately 1,100 euro) per year. The stand-alone toolshop will pay its unskilled employees ZAR 78,000 per year and offer all employees an extensive package of fringe benefits and working conditions.•	Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeSouth African engineers will develop themselves into Van den Brink level injection mould-experts which means they will be upgraded with new injection moulding skills to a knowledge level almost comparable to that in the Van den Brink's toolshop.•	Chain effectsThe customers (moulders and brands) will gain time when refurbishing and/or maintaining their complex injection moulds. The plastic packaging industry in South Africa will further mature.The supply chain for the stand-alone toolshop will benefit from the outsourcing of activities such as transport of moulds and marketing and promotional events.It will trigger the market to start a high quality steel hardening company as will still be outsourced to a company in Germany.•	Position of womenMost probably the financial manager will be female, but in general the impact of this project on the position of women is neutral. A stand-alone toolshop, able to manufacture and refurbish high quality and complex thin-walled injection moulds.