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Packaging company, VPK, has celebrated its 25th year in the UK with the installation of new equipment across various sites, as part of the launch of a new investment programme
VPK Packaging Group is celebrating its 25th year in the UK and Ireland with a range of machine upgrades and investment plans for its various sites in the region.
The Belgian packaging supplier, which is also celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, began its journey in the UK and Ireland with the acquisition of a small packaging operation in August 2000.
Since then, the company has steadily expanded its footprint across the countries, with milestones including the construction of greenfield plants in Selby, Yorkshire, and Wellington, Somerset, as well as strategic joint ventures with Fencor and McLaren Packaging.
Today, VPK UK & Ireland operates as an integrated network of production facilities, supported by paper mills in Belgium and Normandy, France. The vertical integration of the different sites aims to enable strong geographical coverage and multi-site delivery capabilities.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, VPK has launched a new investment programme across its UK operations.
Key developments in the investment programme, which was first announced in 2024, include the installation of a new BOBST MASTERFLEX press at VPK’s site in Banbury, Oxfordshire.
The flexographic press was chosen in part for its six-colour print capability and automatic adjustment capabilities, which VPK asserts will increase output and allow for the production of higher-quality printed packaging solutions.
The packaging company also installed a BOBST 618 casemaker at its Selby site, alongside a range of machine upgrades at other key sites.
The upgrades are part of VPK’s recently launched ‘eight-step solution cycle’, which aims to place innovation and continuous improvement at the core of the company’s operations. Other parts of the cycle include validating its output with vigorous tests, streamlining its supply chains and logistics, and providing ongoing assistance and real-time data to its clients.
Pierre Macharis, chief executive officer of VPK Group, says: “Our strength lies in combining the scale and resilience of an international group with the agility, intimacy, and customer focus of a local partner.
“These investments reflect our continued confidence in the UK market and our commitment to deliver smarter, better-performing, and more sustainable packaging solutions for our customers.”
