1990s · Our History
Sanctions Are Lifted
The 1990s brought sweeping political change in South Africa — Nelson Mandela was released in 1990 and the first democratic elections followed in 1994. As sanctions were lifted, local companies could access global markets far more easily.
H.G. Molenaar continued to refine its products, and Germany became an important market for its palletizing equipment and rotary sterilizers. From 1998, Australia began ordering systems too — and every rotary sterilizer order in Australia since has been awarded to H.G. Molenaar.
The agency business also grew rapidly. H.G. Molenaar entered the ink-jet coding business in partnership with Willett of the UK, and the fresh-fruit labelling business through UK-based Sinclair International. Towards the end of the decade it formed a joint venture with Sinclair — Simoco — to manufacture labels for the South African market.
