Manchester-based packaging firm Duo has doubled UK-based production in 2020 following a £1.85 million (€2 million) investment, producing its largest sales month since its inception.
Photo: Duo / Twitter
The company invested in new technologies and extended its facilities to produce 58 million more mailing bags this year to date - seeing a roughly 66% increase in production compared with 2019 and created seven new jobs.
The firm purchased new manufacturing equipment including a conversion machine and a five-layer co-extruder, which has increased polythene film output by around 25%.
This new equipment allowed Duo to comfortably meet sales and production demands leading up to, and following, Black Friday, in which over 120 million packages were expected for dispatch.
It also received The Queen's Award For Enterprise in Innovation earlier this year and has seen a 10% increase in the volume of recycled content it uses in 2020 and has seen a massive increase in sales of its upcycled bag products, contributing to the firm having a substantial boost towards having a circular economy.
Anthony Brimelow, commercial director at DUO, said: “Our international trading partners have been affected by closures and supply chain delays caused by the coronavirus. We moved quickly to address this and were able to accelerate the installation of our new equipment and site expansion, as well as safely adapting our production capabilities and working patterns, to ensure we could satisfy the growing demand for e-commerce mailing bags and other products being used in the fight against Covid-19 such as hygienic packaging for face masks.
“As well as increasing our UK-based production capacity, the new equipment improves our range of technical abilities and allows us to manufacture more films using recycled polythene content. This fits with our wider strategy to reduce carbon emissions, utilise waste polythene and create more sustainable packaging.
“Despite the challenges of this year, it has been a real positive to grow our UK-based capabilities. We’re now looking forward to continuing this alongside our international trade partners and as part of our global network.
“Drawing on our presence in countries such as China, Germany, the US and Australia, as well as the UK, strengthens our resilience and underpins our commitment to maximising sustainability. We’re in a position to determine the most carbon-efficient packaging solutions for our clients, no matter where they are based and will build on this with future investment and research that reduces carbon and improves resourcefulness.”
“Despite the challenges of this year, it has been a real positive to grow our UK-based capabilities. We’re now looking forward to continuing this alongside our international trade partners and as part of our global network."
He concluded: “Drawing on our presence in countries such as China, Germany, the US and Australia, as well as the UK, strengthens our resilience and underpins our commitment to maximising sustainability.
"We’re in a position to determine the most carbon-efficient packaging solutions for our clients, no matter where they are based and will build on this with future investment and research that reduces carbon and improves resourcefulness.”
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