Essentra to create 170 new jobs at flagship Wales plant

Essentra has announced that it is creating a further 170 jobs at its flagship Newport facility, with support from the Welsh Government.

This additional employment follows the announcement in November that Essentra was investing in a second, state-of-the-art facility in Newport, with the initial creation of 70 jobs – also supported by the Welsh Government. The news was announced by Economy Minister, Edwina Hart, ahead of BioWales 2016, which took place yesterday and today (March 1-2), having attracted more than 700 delegates, including 100 international visitors.

Essentra is a key member of the life sciences sector in Wales and provides specialist secondary packaging and authentication solutions, with its targeted end-markets being the pharmaceutical, health and personal care and consumer goods sectors.

Overall, Essentra’s significant investment in an adjacent site in Newport will create a centre of excellence for the production of labels and foil production, with additional capability for cartons manufacturing and an on-site structural and graphic design studio.

This investment is being supported by £400,000 from the Welsh Government and will bring the total headcount at its Newport campus to approximately 330.

Commenting on the investment, Hugh Ross, managing director, Essentra (Europe), said: “Essentra’s multi-million pound investment in a second site entails a six-fold increase in our existing footprint in Newport, with our new facility being equipped with the latest technologies – including two new label machines, a carton production line, a block foiling machine and computer-to-print equipment – to deliver faster and more flexible production.

“With optimal manufacturing layout, centralised warehousing and a dedicated design studio, this investment thus reinforces Essentra’s commitment to creating centres of excellence from which to meet the exacting requirements of its international customer base.”

Essentra has 29 packaging manufacturing sites worldwide and customers in more than 100 countries are served from facilities in ten countries, with development and design centres supporting the division worldwide.

The company opened its initial site on Imperial Park, Newport (seen at top of story), in 2014 into which it has consolidated a number of its smaller packaging manufacturing operations. That 52,000sq ft facility is equipped with the latest in digital printing and cleanroom facilities for production of labels and primarily packaging foils for the healthcare and consumer goods end-markets. Last year it secured an adjacent 225sq ft facility where the latest expansion will be accommodated.