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A Gateshead extruder is investing £2m in equipment to boost capacity of its 100% recycled PET film for food packaging to 12,000 tonnes a year.

Thermodynamix Thermoforming Specialist Services (TDX) was founded 10 years ago to develop tooling for packaging manufacturers. It moved into extrusion in 2008 when it invested in a first plastic extrusion line.

TDX managing director Mark Prinn told Packaging News the firm's Recoupet Rpet film had been popular from the beginning, but investment in a second line had been delayed due to the recession.

"It's a huge market and we've had customers coming looking for further supply," he said.

The new Luigi Bandera machine is set to be installed in May and is expected to be fully operational by 1 July. Once up and running the plant will boost capacity to 12,000 tonnes and add 12 more jobs to TDX's 70-strong workforce.

Prinn described the investment as "a real boost for manufacturing in the North East".

"There's also a lot of focus on the environment and we source all our material from the UK. The investment means 13,000 tonnes of plastic waste will be diverted from landfill back to food packaging."

He added that the firm would consider a third extrusion line, but there no plans as yet and any decision could take two to three years.

Prinn was keen to point out that the firm continued to invest in its tooling business and has spent £750,000 in the last year on new equipment and software to increase capacity.

"There's more moderate growth than in the extrusion and what there is comes in large part from the export market, but we are still investing in the business," he said.

Newcastle-based Evolve Finance, Yorkshire Bank and equity from existing shareholders is funding the investment in extrusion facilities.

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