Paranova Print and Packaging has outlined plans to spend £20m ($26.6m) over the next five years on expanding its fibre-based packaging business.
A £6m board plant in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire, is part of the programme and is scheduled to begin operating in November.
The site will be the company’s fourth fibre-based operation in the UK and its largest in this segment.
The facility would add capacity for paper-based packaging used in fresh produce, convenience and food-to-go markets.
According to Paranova, the new operation is intended to help customers manage shorter lead times, changing forecasts and the move towards paperisation.
The 98,000ft² site is to contain production space, warehousing, offices and R&D functions.
Approximately one-third of the operational area is being allocated to warehousing to handle seasonal demand and allow room for later expansion.
The facility was developed with machine partner Koenig & Bauer and has been planned around speed, workflow efficiency and automation on the shopfloor, with a new print and finishing equipment set-up.
A Koenig & Bauer press is the main item in the investment.
It is expected to support shorter production runs, quicker turnaround, cut stockholding and a stronger response to more complex customer requirements.
The site is also set to add to Paranova’s capacity in carton and sleeve products.
After this phase, the company intends to invest a further £14m in additional press and finishing machinery, alongside a fully automated logistics system.
When fully operational, the site is expected to support 150 jobs.
Paranova Print and Packaging CEO Jo Ormrod said: “This investment marks another major milestone in Paranova’s growth and underlines our long-term commitment to the future of fibre-based packaging.
“By investing in next-generation print and finishing technology, we are creating a manufacturing environment that supports shorter lead times, greater flexibility and faster speed to market.”
In May, Paranova opened its upgraded manufacturing base in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, after a £5m overhaul of the site.
