Packing ‘Revolution’
17th October 2006
A MAJOR investment has been made by a Grimsby packing firm that looks to build on…
A MAJOR investment has been made by a Grimsby packing firm that looks to build on the initial success of a wonder product that is revolutionising the transportation of fish.
More than £750,000 has just been ploughed into Tri-Pack’s operations, focusing on the production of the branded Coolseal boxes, a means for the more efficient delivery of chilled fish, the fastest growing seafood sector and a key Grimsby export.
The branded polypropylene package is flatpacked pre-use, saving huge areas of expensive factory space, and can be stacked or baled for collection after delivery of the fish. Leakproof, it provides a double-layer of insulation to keep the temperatures down and it also has a higher recyclable value that alternatives such as polystyrene.
The savings for the processors, forwarding companies and supermarkets have led to a staggering three-million boxes a year leaving the 35,000sq ft plant on South Humberside Industrial Estate.
The new equipment to cater for the increasing demand has seen 10-million identified as a new target.
Managing director Stephen Clarke first came up with the product in the early Nineties. He said “I have been working on this personally since 1992, but the market just wasn’t ready to receive something new. Environmental issues just weren’t as strong as they are now.
“The return has been driven by the supermarkets and airfreight requests for easier transportation. Retailers need a pack that fits in with normal distribution channels, they want to deliver fish on the same vehicles that they take poultry and meat in.”
The investment to up production levels was made possible after an Icelandic packaging firm took a 35 per cent stake in Tri-Pack 12 months ago.
“It has enabled us to apply a traditional packaging method into a new modern production line,” said Mr Clarke, who believes the backing demonstrates global confidence in the product, which is being sold to companies in Ireland, Norway, Holland, France and Italy.
“The Icelandic company had looked around at everything available, and came to the conclusion that our product was the most likely to become the next standard for fish packaging.”
Tri-Pack has boosted staff numbers from 50 to 60, and Mr Clarke has space on his site for further expansion.
“We are ambitious,” he added. “With future investment we will create more jobs, and our location in Grimsby is absolutely vital, both for the industry here and supplying Norway and Iceland.”