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JOHN DANIEL HOLDINGS LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
INTEGRATED ANNUAL REPORT 2011
JDH at a glance -
Continued
JDH support permits entrepreneurs and product special-
ists to focus on their areas of expertise without the burden
associated with normal business management. The result
is improved business growth without impacting the sup-
port infrastructure and management.
Current
Vinguard Limited (Registration no.2002/026858/06)
Vinguard, founded in 2002 is a public company with over
300 shareholders. The primary product of Vinguard is an
insert used in table grapes packaging, which eliminates
fungal infections and prolongs the shelf life of the grapes.
The Vinguard
TM
two stage SO
2
generating sheet was de-
veloped over a period of 7 years at Stellenbosch University
and has been in commercial use globally for five years. The
research was conducted in conjunction with the South Af-
rican Deciduous Fruit Producers Trust and local table grape
farmers.The technology that flowed from this research was
both new and innovative, utilising current and up to date
knowledge in the fields of polymer science and membrane
transfer theory, with a key focus on minimising SO
2
resi-
due levels. Thus the Vinguard
TM
two stage SO
2
generating
sheet truly is the most advanced SO
2
generating sheet on
the international market. The Vinguard manufacturing fa-
cility contains a one of a kind, automated plant capable of
manufacturing in excess of 40 000 000 sheets per annum.
The plant was designed and built by Vinguards’ in-house
team of engineers and polymer scientists in conjunction
with leading experts in the fields of mechanical, electronic
and electrical engineering, production flow logistics, heat
transfer technology and flow dynamics.
The manufacturing process contains both automated and
manual quality control tests designed to ensure that each
and every Vinguard
TM
two stage SO
2
generating sheet is
produced according to specification.
The Vinguard two stage SO
2
gas generating sheet rep-
resents the latest technology in the field of controlled
release. SO
2
gas is released through a monolithic re-
lease mechanism, similar to release systems used in
the pharmaceutical industry, and can be controlled and
manipulated to suit any client’s specific requirements.
High SO
2
residue levels on table grapes are unaccept-
able to both the global table grape consumer and an
increasing number of governments and regulating
bodies around the world. Retailers are striving to supply
their customers with healthier and higher quality fruit
on an ongoing basis.
The Vinguard
TM
two stage SO
2
gas generating sheet has
been independently tested by The Volcani Institute in
Israel and found to have the lowest SO
2
residue level of
any SO
2
gas generating sheet in use, while still acting as
an effective fungicide. The Vinguard
TM
two stage SO
2
gas
generating sheets’ SO
2
residue levels was found to be less
than 2 ppm after a ten week period, and this was achieved
without decreasing the Vinguard
TM
two stage SO
2
gas
generating sheets efficacy as a fungicide.
Release of SO
2
gas takes place through a monolithic re-
lease mechanism once the sheet comes into contact with
the high levels of moisture present inside the grape pack-
aging. Release of SO
2
gas is directed in only one direction
by the non SO
2
gas permeable polymeric carrier material.
The fact that SO
2
gas is only allowed to move in one di-
rection combined with the unique gas release properties
of the polymer matrix allow Vinguard
TM
to use lower dos-
ages of SO
2
to obtain effective Botrytis Cinerea control.
The unique construction of the polymer matrix enables
the Vinguard
TM
two stage SO
2
gas generating sheet to
release SO
2
gas in a controlled manner in two distinctive
phases over an extended period of time. Manipulation of
the release rate can be achieved by changing the compo-
sition of the polymer matrix.
The Vinguard
TM
two stage SO
2
gas generating sheet has
been approved for use by all major UK supermarkets in-
cluding Tesco, Asda, Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury.
In addition to this the Vinguard
TM
SO
2
generating sheet
has also been accredited by numerous international buy-
ers and exporters including Richard Hochfeld, Prima Fruit,
Gomez and International Produce.