June 2017

72 APAC / June 2017 , 1701AP03 Never Dispense with a Good Idea Headquartered inHelmond, The Netherlands, Afa is a leading developer and a global supplier of technology-rich, liquid dispensing products, and is the preferred supplier of many of the top brands in home and garden care, food, beverage and other packaged goods. We take a glimpse into the firm’s fascinating history. Shortly after its incorporation in 1965 as a custom injection-moulder, Afa started to produce its own products and in the early 1970’s became the first company to offer the trigger sprayer in Europe. Since then, Afa has continued to focus on developing proprietary technologies that enable it to offer unique, liquid dispensing products to the global markets. In addition, its latest propellant- free bottle and spray platform - Flair and Flairosol - are the most advanced and wide range alternative to aerosol and pressurised packages. In a market where most dispensing packages are fast becoming commodities, branded products are facing increased competition from private labels. Afa provides the solution by applying its proprietary technologies as a platform for developing new ways to dispense all types of liquids, beverages, soft food products and other fluids. Afa offers its customers a comprehensive solution, combining the service of its renowned Liquid Dispensing R&D Center, its mass-production capabilities and its customer care on three continents to create an enlightening, creative and satisfying experience from the moment the customer is first engaged with Afa. Afa’s ability to offer dispensing solutions that enrich its customers’ brands is a function of Afa’s innovation philosophy: separating the liquid from its propellant and thereby achieving control over the liquid flow and its dispensing. Accordingly, all Afa’s products are based on its proprietary bottle and dispenser platforms, which give the product designer great flexibility in terms of controlling the liquid and determining its intensity, as well as the timing and location of its interaction with the propellant medium. Consequently, products that use Afa’s dispensing packages provide greater value to the consumer, such as longer shelf life, a drip-free experience, measured-dose and fine-mist dispensing, a thick-foam option, upside-down dispensing and a 100% evacuation rate. Afa’s product range includes pre-compression sprayers (OpUs and OpTion), an airless and gas-free aerosol-like dispenser (Flairosol), the most advanced spray-mop line on the market (Samba) and several customised applications that use Afa’s dispensing platforms to create greater value to the consumer, such as Heineken’s home draft- beer system (BeerTender®). Afa was established as a custom plastic moulder in 1965. In the early 1970s, Afa began producing trigger sprayers under license from its American inventor and until 1998 continued to serve both as a custom moulder and as a producer of its own products. Under new ownership, Afa exited the custom-moulding segment and invested heavily in liquid- dispensing technologies to pursue its ‘brand enhancement through innovative dispensing’ strategy. With this strategy Afa has emerged as the leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of innovative dispensing systems, which bring greater value to the consumer. The key milestones in Afa’s history include: • 1965 Established as a custom moulder; • 1971 Obtained sales & production licenses for the trigger sprayer; • 1970s Hybrid custom moulder & sprayer manufacturer; • 1998 Afa steps away from custom moulding & adopts a new strategy; • 1999 Introduction of the OnePak® sprayer platform; • 2002 The first OnePak® product – the new OpAd® trigger sprayer; • 2004 Launch of home draft- beer system; • 2005 Afa expands production to China; • 2007 Introduction of the OpUs® trigger sprayer & the Bona floor mop; • 2008 Opening of Afa Dispensing Group North American sales & service office; • 2008 Introduction of the Flair® dispensing technology platform; • 2010 The OpUs® becomes the fastest-selling sprayer ever to enter the market; • 2013 The introduction of Flairosol®; • 2013 Introduction of the Samba spray mop. Afa’s trigger sprayers are the most advanced, effective and efficient sprayer systems in today’s market. Our patented pre-compression technology is the basis for our premium line of sprayers. Unlike conventional trigger sprayers, Afa’s pre- compression valving system efficiently dispenses the output at high velocity, creating powerfully consistent spray and foam patterns. From start to end of trigger actuation, our sprayers have virtually no liquid ‘fall-off’ or ‘boulders’ (large droplets of liquid). This makes for high performance and efficient trigger sprayers that are greatly valued by consumers and brands alike. Since its launch in 2008, Afa’s OpUs has proven to be the fastest selling trigger sprayer in history. OpUs offers technological and marketing