News

Mercury Packaging, the films specialist, has installed a £1.3m eight-colour Uteco Onyx flexographic gearless press at its plant in Nottingham.

The press enables the company to offer a diverse range of printing capabilities up to 1250mm wide with 330mm to 750mm design repeat in up to eight colours.

It allows printing and lamination to a variety of substrates including polyethylene (PE), cast polypropylene (CPP), and biaxially orientated polypropylene (BOPP).

It will also enable the company to use speciality inks including metallics, light fast, pearlescents, high abrasion resistance, deep freeze, write on and thermochromics.

The investment will enable Mercury to penetrate the previously untapped food industry with the development of BRC/IoP approved printed films, laminates and bags for the frozen & chilled foods, fresh produce, pet food, confectionery and tea and coffee sectors.

Mike Barlow, director of Mercury Packaging, said: "Bringing printing in-house was a natural next step following our expansion into larger premises a couple of years ago. We had enough work to justify the investment and decided to go for it. Once full, it should increase our turnover by 50%.

"The new print capability will also help us move into the food industry which is fundamental to our future growth. Most importantly though, the installation reflects our continued commitment to delivering the service levels and technical excellence required by blue chip customers across all market sectors."

Mercury employs 50 people at its site in Kirkby-in-Ashfield and has a turnover of £5m.