Saica Flex Deeside has invested £2.2m ($2.9m) in a fully automated coating machine at its Deeside site, increasing production capability and widening its product scope in the UK label sector.

The new equipment replaces the previous level of coating output with a system that can handle wider materials at faster speeds. The company said this is expected to improve manufacturing efficiency and product consistency.

The machine also gives the site greater scope to produce linerless products, a part of the grouping bands and pressure-sensitive labels market that has been drawing more attention.

These products do not require release liners, which can reduce material use and waste from liner disposal.

Saica Flex Deeside said the addition of the coater supports its sustainability plans by cutting raw material consumption linked to disposable liners.

The machine provides four times the previous capacity, allowing the plant to handle more orders, bid for larger contracts and respond more readily to demand, while supporting delivery schedules and longer-term planning.

The project was overseen by operations manager Paul Brewer and technical manager Paul Mayall, who reviewed coating machine suppliers globally before choosing the new system.

The installation has been finished, and the machine is now in operation.

Saica Flex Deeside general manager Andy Salisbury said: “This investment marks a major step forward for our Deeside operations.

“The new coater enables us to deliver greater value to our customers through improved performance, cost efficiency, and sustainable solutions. It underlines our long-term commitment to innovation and leadership in the UK label market.”

In February, Polytag, Saica Flex and Paragon teamed up to supply packaging labels containing invisible UV tags for the collection of real-time environmental data.

That partnership combines Polytag’s detection technology, Saica Flex’s packaging production operations and Paragon Inks’ UV ink formulations.