Sustainable packaging manufacturer’s investment will enable expansion of fibre-based operations to meet growing demand
Paranova Print and Packaging is set to invest £20 million over the next five years to expand its fibre-based packaging operations, beginning with a £6mn investment in a new purpose-built board facility in Godmanchester, Cambridge.
The company also plans to invest a further £14mn in additional press and finishing equipment, as well as a state-of-the-art fully automated logistics system that will help to scale output, improve efficiency and support future growth at the site.
The investment is expected to meet rising demand for paper, cartonboard and fibre-based packaging solutions as sustainability becomes an increasingly important priority across the packaging sector.
The new Godmanchester site, due to open in November, will be the largest fibre-based facility in the UK. It will include a manufacturing space, on-site warehouse, office, and research and development site.
Developed in collaboration with machinery specialist Koenig & Bauer, the site is designed around automation, speed, sustainability and service flexibility. It is hoped to help customers meet shorter lead times, variable forecasts and the ongoing shift towards paperisation.
At the centre of the investment is a next-generation Koenig & Bauer press designed to support shorter run lengths, faster turnaround, reduced stockholding, and greater responsiveness to complex customer requirements.
Once fully operational, the site is expected to support a headcount of 150 employees.
Jo Ormrod, CEO at Paranova Print and Packaging, said: “This investment marks another major milestone in Paranova’s growth and underlines our long-term commitment to the future of fibre-based packaging.
“Godmanchester has been purpose-built to help us meet the increasing pace and complexity our customers require, particularly across fresh produce, convenience and food-to-go.
”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.”
The announcement follows Paranova’s recent completion of a £5mn transformation of its St Neots fibre-based food-to-go packaging facility, reinforcing the group’s wider investment strategy across fibre-based packaging.
