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Visit reports

Here, you can find reports of the majority of visits that we make as a Society. Anyone is welcome to come along to our events, most are free, take place in the early evening and involve a presentation from our hosts, a trip around the facility and then a Q&A session (often with refreshments thrown in). Spaces are often limited, and available on a first come, first served basis. For forthcoming events, the organiser is listed. Just click on the name to send an e-mail requesting either more information or a place on the trip. For a link to the websites of the hosting companies, please just click on their logo, picture or name.

Company
Introduction
Full report
Pollard Boxes link East Midlands Packaging Society members had an opportunity to visit Pollard Boxes. Based in Enderby, they are one of the leading paper covered rigid presentation box manufacturing companies in Europe.  They moved to their 45,000 sq ft ‘state of the art’ factory in July 2004 and employ over 100 people. pollardreport
toyota_link

Question - What has making cars got to do with making packaging?

Answer - Giving the customer what they want, at the right time, to the right quality and at the right price. So how did Institute members find this out - by visiting Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd at Burnaston nr Derby.

toyotareport
Smart Materials Lecture, presented by Paul Butler of Packaging Materials and Technologies Ltd
So what are smart materials you may ask?  It appears we use them without a ‘second’ thought.  Take the quartz oscillator for example; it is the most common form of time and frequency signals and most of the 2 billion made annually end up in electronic circuits, clocks and wrist watches
triumphlink

What goes from 0-60mph in 2.7 secs and is packaged in a multi layer crate?  A Triumph motor bike with a 2.3 litre engine!  Apparently it goes faster with a pillion passenger too - more weight over the back wheel.

 triumphreport
kocher_beck_link The East Midlands branch of IOP – The Packaging Society started the visiting season with a fascinating trip to Kocher and Beck, a leading manufacturer of flexible dies primarily for the labelling and envelope industries. A die is part of the production process and is in effect the blade that cuts the shape from the substrate material k_b_report
Bob Pritty Packaging
Innovations Seminar

Over 100 delegates attended the second Bob Pritty Seminar on Innovation in Packaging.   Organised by the East and West Midland branches at the Bass Museum in Burton upon Trent and sponsored by Darley Labels, Gencia, Plastek, and RPC Wiko, the delegates were shown how innovation is vital to a company's success.

 seminar_pdf
afterprint_link

The first day of autumn brought branch members to Basford in Nottingham to visit Afterprint Limited.  Started by David Boulton and David Jordan in 1989, the company began life as a trade finisher, aiming to be a one stop shop for the design, die cutting, gluing and finishing of printed components.  This is still their core business and as they run 24 hrs, they have a strong, loyal and satisfied customer base.

 afterprint_pdf
Part of the Peter Black Group, the Healthcare Operation manufactures and packs about 30% of the vitamins, mineral supplements and herbal products sold in the UK.
We had the rare treat of visiting FFP Packaging Solutions. FFP is one of the UK's leading Flexible Packaging manufacturers, a position built on quality and innovation. From steam valve lidding to packs designed to cook directly on a barbeque, a fascinating insight into a very successful business.