The company, which manufactures printed film packaging primarily for the perishable food sector, plans to build a 1,566sq m extension to the Welshpool plant to house a unique start-of-the-art printing press and ancillary converting equipment. Currently 52-strong, Wipak (UK) is a wholly owned subsidiary of privately-owned Finnish group Wihuri Oy, and part of the group's packaging arm, which has facilities throughout Europe and North America. The firm moved its packaging facility to bespoke premises in Welshpool in 1997 and has undergone continued expansion, the latest supported by the Welsh Development Agency, growing its turnover in the last eight years from some £1M to around £10M this year.
Wipak UK md Philip Wolstenholme says: "This is a significant investment in the existing facility here in Mid Wales and highlights the company's commitment to the area and our workforce. The expansion will enable us to increase production of packaging film from around 25m sq m to 45m sq m/year."
He adds: "Wipak's film manufacture is mainly undertaken in France, Germany and Finland, but we convert here, mainly into barrier laminates, for foods including cheese, meats, breads and other fresh produce."
