Dungannon firm Greiner Packaging reveals £10m boost
Greiner Packaging UK & Northern Ireland began as Wilsanco Plastics Ltd, founded by Ivan Wilson of Beechgrove, Dungannon, in 1972 to manufacture cream pots for local dairies and co-operatives.
Demand soared for its goods and the business grew over the decades to become a major producer of sustainable packaging for the food and non-food sector.
While a series of investments helped it evolve from a small firm with a £5m turnover in the 1990s, to today’s major business with its £60 million turnover and 320 employees.
Now parent company Greiner Packaging International, which took over the firm in 2006, has marked the Dungannon business’s 50th anniversary by unveiling plans for a major expansion of its warehouse, a new manufacturing hall and range of new bespoke machinery.
Investment
The £10 million plus investment package is part of an ambition to increase turnover to £100 million over the next five to seven years.
It is on top of a recent £3.7 million injection into new kit at the site, which enables it to use even more recycled materials in its market-leading sustainable packaging.
Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland currently employs 320 people at Dungannon and is known for its innovative approach to finding sustainable packaging solutions.
News of the latest cash injection came as the business marked its 50th anniversary at a gathering attended by the Greiner Family Council from Austria. They were joined by representatives of regional and local government, and key investors.
Director Operations at Greiner Packaging International, Jarek Zasadzinski said: “As we celebrate this important anniversary, we are proud to announce these new investments which follow the more than £35m we have invested since acquiring Wilsanco.
“Sixteen years ago, the site was turning over £15m and today we are achieving £60m. Our goal is to grow this site to £100m over the next five to seven years.”
He added: “We are so proud of our achievements, of our loyal and committed workforce, and to be celebrating 50 sustainable years in Dungannon in 2022.
“Alongside investing to create new packaging solutions, there has been a constant focus on investing in improving our environmental sustainability performance and pursuing our goal to achieve a circular economy.”
New technology
Since its launch, the Dungannon firm has used innovative technology to produce some of the world’s most sustainable packaging which meets the high demands of a range of food and non-food customers.
It has also embraced renewable energy and sustainability, beginning in its early years with a £2.5m investment in Northern Ireland’s first high-bay warehouse, made from sustainable materials.
While its Project SCool initiative, visited by the Duke of Gloucester in 2015, delivered the factory’s water cooling needs using wind power and provides heating for the nearby Integrated College.
Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland Sales Director, Julie Eller, said the project has made a significant contribution to CO2 reduction, while the energy savings have resulted in the school being able to fund an additional four teachers.
She added: “Preparations are underway for Project SCool 2.0, which will see the existing school being expanded to three times its current size, with Greiner Packaging providing 100% of the heating requirements.”
The firm now meets all its energy needs from renewable sources and has plans to become carbon neutral by 2030.
Celebration
To mark its 50th anniversary, five trees have been planted - one representing each decade.
The business has seen a number of major investments down the years by Greiner Packaging International, with support from Invest NI, the UK Government, and EU regional development funds.
Mr Zasadzinski said the investments had contributed to building a highly successful and sustainable manufacturing business which serves hundreds of customers across the UK and Ireland.
The latest investment will see the factory warehouse expand dramatically, from 3,000 to 11,000 spaces.
Meanwhile, the Dungannon firm is also known for its strong community engagement programmes ranging from litter picks to charity support: over the past four years it has donated more than £40,000 to charities.
It has also won a string of awards in recognition of its employee investment and support. As well as regular events to support health and wellbeing – ranging from nutrition advice to sleep health tips - each year the firm runs an Employee Appreciation Day as a ‘thank you’ to staff.
The business plans to mark its anniversary by becoming even more visible.
Sustainability and Innovation Manager Rachel Sheldon said: “Our 50th anniversary provides an ideal opportunity to remind our customers that we have been on a constant and well-planned journey to deliver the most sustainable packaging solutions.
“People all over the UK and Ireland will soon see our ‘We love sustainable packaging’ message, as a fleet of newly liveried trailers heads out onto the nations’ roads from our factory in Dungannon.”
Find out more at www.greiner-gpi.com/en