Mercian Labels opens relocated factory
Mercian Labels’ new factory in Burntwood, Staffordshire has been formally opened by local MP Michael Fabricant.
The 45 year old label manufacturing business recently purchased the site to continue its expansion as a result of demand for its digital and security labelling products.
The 24,000 ft2 factory represents a significant increase in capacity for the business that was previously based in a 6,000ft2 site in Cannock.
“After seven consecutive years of growth we were experiencing significant overcrowding challenges,” explains managing director Dr Adrian Steele . “We identified this vacant former speedboat manufacturing facility earlier this summer as being ideal for our future needs and with support from our professional advisers we secured a quick transaction in early August. This allowed us to refit the site to our specification before moving the factory in October.
“The project has taken a lot of effort from everyone involved. Our staff have been amazing – everyone moved with us and the relocation itself went well ahead of schedule. The new factory will allow us to expand production to meet both domestic and export demand for our tamper evident and digital label and carton products for the next 10 years.
“With a fantastic facility like this we can now grow to meet pent up customer demand for our products. We have already committed to significant new machinery investment for 2015 that we just couldn’t fit into our previous site, enabling us to increase production capacity. Poised for further growth is on overused term but now that our capacity constraints have been lifted we expect further significant growth in the next three years. Its like taking the handcuffs off our team to get on and do what they do best.”
The site was formally opened on 7 November by Michael Fabricant, MP for Lichfield in the presence of 70 stakeholders including customers, suppliers, staff, local councillors and professional advisers. Unveiling a commemorative plaque at the factory Michael Fabricant said “I used to be a customer of Mercian Labels before I ever became an MP so it was a genuine pleasure and a privilege to open their new facility in Burntwood. Mercian Labels are just one of four specialised security label printers in the world so it is great to see more hi-technology moving into Lichfield District. I hope to visit them again when their new production line is installed.”
Attending the formal opening and factory tour were representatives from key suppliers from the labelling industry including Neil Lilly from Rotometrics, Phill Attwood from Avery Dennison, Nick Boyle from Manter and Paul Briggs from Xeikon.
Mercian Labels will be recruiting an further 25 full time positions across its Burntwood and Derby factories in the next three years to expand its team in a variety of roles including skilled production roles, apprenticeships, finance, marketing, sales, quality and management.
The project was supported by the Regional Growth Fund and the Business Development Programme that encourages job creating businesses in Staffordshire to grow and fulfil their potential.