New robots boost production capacity at Northern Paper Board

North Yorkshire packaging firm Northern Paper Board has installed its two latest automated robots and is set to boost production capacity significantly.

The Skipton-based company's two new ABB robotic machines to feed printers and folder gluers have been supplied by Dutch and Belgium manufacturer C-Tech Machines, which specialises in robotics and automation systems.

The contract, which cements an existing trading partnership between the two companies, covers design, manufacture, supply, installation and after-sales service.

In addition, Northern Paper Board has installed a dedicated on-site server, which enables direct links with technical experts at C-Tech Machines.

“This is an extremely powerful management and problem-solving tool,” said John Curran, managing director of Northern Paper Board, now the UK's second largest manufacturer of solid board boxes primarily for the meat, poultry, fish and horticultural packaging sectors.

The expanding firm is undertaking a £2.4m investment programme at its six-acre site in Engine Shed Lane.

It has already installed new die cutting, folder gluing and printing machinery, and an automated pallet-wrapping line, along with new-build production, warehousing and office extensions, which have seen the facility expand to 40,000sq ft.

In the current financial year, Northern Paper Board is pumping another £600,000 into the business. The two new automated robots will be followed by a new automated stacking system for the palletisation line, due for installation this month. (Nov)

It will give the firm the capacity to produce up to 150,000 boxes on a single day shift. Northern Paper Board's product range covers 4-point glued lids and bases to 6-point glued one-piece boxes, including PE-coated, uncoated and leak-proof boxes.

Northern Paper Board continues to achieve solid year on year growth. In the past three years, turnover has risen from £5.4m to £8.3m and is set to increase again in the current financial year to an estimated £10m.