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Sheard Packaging has recently invested in a third Göpfert die cutter, a fourth Bahmüller gluer set, and plans significant expansions to its production facility
UK independent corrugated packaging manufacturer, Sheard Packaging, has announced plans for further growth and investment, after a series of expansions that have nearly doubled its output within five years.
The fifth-generation, family-owned business is currently headed up by owner Roger Whittaker and managing director Lee Shackleton. Its 37,000 sq m Yorkshire facility operates 24/7, with 16,000sq m devoted purely to manufacturing.
The company reports a current turnover of £85m, producing over 175 million square metres of corrugated board annually – with this output nearly doubling in less than five years and current operations producing well in excess of 1 million boxes every day.
Among the machinery arsenal in Sheard’s core facility, the company has recently purchased a third Göpfert rotary die cutter, which is due to arrive in June 2027. No other UK manufacturer has three of these advanced machines, which are designed for premium printed flexo and die-cut packaging.
Alongside the Göpfert machines, Sheard also operates six case makers, two flatbed die cutting lines, and three multi-point specialist gluers, with a fourth Bahmüller gluer set to arrive this June.
The latest project at the company will also see the expansion of its existing warehouse and utilities to create an additional 3,400sq m of covered storage and operational space.
Speaking about Sheard’s recent investments, owner Roger Whittaker says: “We have always believed in reinvesting back into the business.
“Whether it’s new machinery, expanding the site, or developing our people, those decisions are about building capability for the future. Being independent gives us the freedom to take that long-term view. We can make decisions today that strengthen the business for the next ten, 20, even 50 years.”
Sheard emphasises that it remains debt-free and independent, with its core goal being to reinvest profits into people, technology, and innovation without the pressures of external shareholders.
Other highlights of the facility include Sheard Packaging’s Mobile Innovation Centre (MiC), which was recently showcased at Packaging Innovations & Empack 2026.
The centre brings the full capabilities of Sheard’s Innovation and Design Centre directly to clients with a testing laboratory, a fully functional design studio, and a Zünd cutting table.
While only five years ago, trade work accounted for roughly 45% of Sheard’s output, today the figure has risen significantly to 75%, with each client supported by a dedicated team comprising an account manager, technical contact, internal sales support, and a CAD designer.
Speaking about the goals of Sheard, Whittaker adds: “At the heart of Sheard Packaging is a simple principle – we look after our people, we look after our customers, and we keep investing in the future of the business.
“If you get those things right, growth tends to follow naturally. It has never been about chasing numbers, it has always been about building something sustainable that the next generation can be proud of.”
