Greiner Packaging marks 50 years with major investment

The company, which for 50 years has produced some of the world’s most sustainable packaging, plans a major expansion of its warehouse, a range of new bespoke machinery and manufacturing hall.

The move is a key part of the firm’s ambitions to boost its turnover at the Dungannon facility to £100 million over the next five to seven years.

News of the huge investment follows a £3.7 million injection into new kit which enables the use of even more recycled materials in its market-leading packaging.

Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland currently employs 320 people at its Dungannon site.

Details of the latest cash injection came as the business marked its 50th anniversary at a gathering attended by the Greiner Family Council from Austria, representatives of regional and local government, and investors.

The firm’s roots stretch to 1972, when Wilsanco Plastics Ltd was founded by Ivan Wilson of Beechgrove, Dungannon, to manufacture cream pots for local dairies and co-operatives.

It expanded significantly over the following three decades as demand for its polystyrene products soared before being taken over by Greiner Packaging International in 2006.

Expansion

The latest investment will see the factory warehouse expand from 3,000 to 11,000 spaces.

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.”

The investments into the business by Greiner Packaging International have been partly funded by Invest NI, UK government, and EU regional development funds.

Mr Zasadzinski said they had contributed to building a highly successful and sustainable manufacturing business serving hundreds of customers across the UK and Ireland.

“We are so proud of our achievements, of our loyal and committed workforce, and to be celebrating 50 sustainable years in Dungannon in 2022,” he added.

Since its launch the Dungannon firm has used cutting edge technology to produce some of the world’s most sustainable packaging, specifically designed to meet the high demands of a range of food and non-food customers.

Renewables

It has also embraced the use of renewable energy and sustainability, starting in its early years with a £2.5m investment in Northern Ireland’s first high-bay warehouse, made from sustainable materials.

That was quickly followed by the firm’s Project SCool, which delivered the factory’s water cooling needs using wind power.

The innovative project, which was visited by the Duke of Gloucester in 2015, also delivers heating for the nearby Integrated College.

Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland Sales Director, Julie Eller, said: “Project SCool has not only made a significant contribution to CO2 reduction, but the energy savings made have resulted in the school being able to fund an additional four teachers.

“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 business now meets its energy needs solely from renewable sources and aims to become carbon neutral by 2030.

Anniversary

To mark its 50th birthday, five trees were planted, one representing each decade.

Mr Zasadzinski added: “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.”

The business is also known for its community engagement and over the past four years has donated more than £40,000 to charities.

It has also won a string of awards for its investment in people. As well as regular events to support health and wellbeing, each year the firm runs an Employee Appreciation Day as a ‘thank you’ to staff.

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