Clingfoil investment generates capacity boost

Packaging Solutions Print Solutions

A £50,000 capital investment is enabling one of the North West’s largest independent distributors of high performance protective packaging materials and stretch film to increase its stretch wrap capacity by 25%, reducing customer lead times by 70% even during periods of peak demand.

Clingfoil’s new CG Automatic Converting Equipment 220 fully automatic rewind machine joins four existing units at the Poynton Cheshire plant, and is increasing the firm’s capacity by an additional 500 rolls of stretch wrap per day, enabling it to expand production from two million to 2.5 million metres per week. It also allows the company to run selected lines permanently, as well as reducing lead times by 70%.

Customers in the North West warehouse, logistics, distribution and food supply sectors will benefit from the improved lead times, which will be particularly apparent during the industry’s peak demand period from September to January, when the lead times of many other suppliers are extended.

Clingfoil’s new acquisition forms part of a £50,000 capital investment package, which also includes the purchase of an additional conveyor, case sealer and in line printer. The investment follows a surge in demand for the company’s products over the last two years.

Mark Kenyon, managing director, commented: ‘Clingfoil continues to experience a steady increase in demand for our stretch film – in part due to the continuing expansion of the North West e-commerce and logistics sector – and the new machine increases our capacity, making the entire operation more efficient and adding further resilience during peak season.

‘During our 35 years in the business, we have acquired a deep, first hand understanding of our market, and we are confident that this, combined with our on-going investment will enable us to continue to meet the evolving needs of the customer, who requires high quality product with a short lead time.’

Integrated with an outfeed conveyor, the 220 Fully Automatic Rewind Machine takes the core material, glues film to it and rewinds the required length, cutting the finished product and loading the roll onto a conveyor belt destined for the packing department.