Equipment

Label manufacturer and bar code equipment supplier The Label Store is to increase its manufacturing capacity by more than a third after investing in a new manufacturing unit at its site in Beverley.

The Yorkshire-based company has added a 1,700sq m unit to its existing two units on the same industrial estate, where it will install new label manufacturing equipment as well as provide conference facilities and a customer centre, all of which is expected to be fully operational in 2009.

The Label Store sales and marketing director Andrew Mansfield said: "We are currently reviewing the press technology available and will install it before the end of the year."

He added that demand for printed and blank self-adhesive labels, bar code printers and Auto-ID equipment has been increasing and sister company Mediamec, which provides bar code printers and supplies, is also experiencing growth.

To handle the expansion, the company has appointed former professional footballer Trevor Christie as business manager to join a seven-strong sales and marketing team.

Steve Parsons has also joined as technical manager to manage and expand the in-house service and repair team and lead product development.

Together The Label Store and London-based Mediamec employ 30 people.

The Label Store has its origins in KTP, which was founded in 1977 as a supplier of bar coding systems.

The Label Store opened in 1983 and became independent in 2004 and now provides bar code verifiers, bar code label printers, label design software, ribbons and bespoke and stock labels.

Customers include Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Boots and TK Maxx.