Compack Cartons has opened its new packaging operation in Livingston, following a £13.5m investment in the facility by Port Glasgow-based McLaren Packaging.
The company previously operated from 8,000 sq ft premises in an adjacent unit in the Houston Industrial Estate, was acquired by McLaren in 2017, and since then has doubled its workforce and quadrupled turnover.
It designs and manufactures packaging for brands in the food and drink, pharmaceutical and medical device sectors, from recyclable materials.
The investment has backed the purchase and refurbishment of an existing 66,000 sq ft unit, including new plant and the latest print, foil, embossing and finishing technologies.
It will also create 26 new jobs, and safeguard 59 existing jobs over a two-year period, comprising of shop floor operators and office-based staff.
The facility upgrade includes a 188 kW Solar PV installation; a replacement insulated roof to improve energy performance; heat recovery technology to use waste heat to reduce the gas demand of the building; automated print adjustment to reduce set-up waste.
Compack managing director Steve Railton said: “The larger production facility and industry leading machinery gives Compack the capability to better serve the needs and growth aspirations of our key customers responsibly.
“Our new facility expands our production capacity significantly, enables us to attract and retain highly skilled staff and create new skilled jobs in Central Scotland for young people.
“It also gives us the ability to manufacture short runs, to short lead times with a short supply chain to local and international companies based in the UK.”
Donald McLaren, managing director at McLaren Packaging, said: “The investment in Compack demonstrates the importance of our Livingston operation and our long-term commitment to the future of premium and luxury packaging produced in Scotland.
“We foresee significant opportunity for locally sourced packaging and this expansion will allow us to offer a comprehensive portfolio of eco-conscious packs to the market.
“The investment also allows us to vertically integrate by bringing in house our existing material purchasing for conversion in other areas of our business.”
Wellbeing Economy Secretary Neil Gray, who opened the new site, said: “Not only will this project create 26 new skilled jobs, through the company’s sustainable practices, it will help us in our aim to reach net zero by 2045 and create a wellbeing economy.”
The investment received grant support from Scottish Enterprise, with chief executive Adrian Gillespie adding: “Scottish Enterprise’s support for this new facility underlines our commitment to Scotland’s manufacturers.
“By helping companies like Compack invest in innovation, we can drive growth, create jobs, increase productivity, and accelerate decarbonisation plans.”
Founded in 1979, McLaren Packaging manufactures a range of paper-based packaging for the drinks sector, operating from six factories in central Scotland, with annual revenues of £45m and a workforce totalling 300.
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