2 minute read - 31st August 2023
Roberts Mart invests over £11m at Leeds factory site
Packaging manufacturer Roberts Mart is investing £11m in infrastructure and machinery at its Leeds factory site.
The sixth generation, family-owned and managed company is investing over £7m in the construction of a new warehouse extension that is being added to the main site building at Aire Valley House, Leeds. This will also include an additional extension to its existing ink store.
In 2022, Roberts Mart entered its 170th year in business. The firm says these latest investments mean it is prepared for an uptake in new contracts, with business turnover having already increased to just under £45m last year.
Flexible packaging manufacturer Roberts Mart is investing more than £11m at its Leeds factory to prepare for future growth / Picture: Roberts Mart
The latest equipment investment at the site includes £3.4m* (€4m) on an Allstein Hydro 10 colour flexo printing press and a new Comexi Slitter machine that uses state of the art laser technology. This follows the purchase earlier in the year of a new Pouch machine, to the value of £430,000* (€500,000).
William Roberts, managing director of Roberts Mart, said: “Investing in the future of the business is crucial and these recent developments will allow us to operate even more efficiently, futureproof our business and better support our growing customer base. The new flexo printing press is capable of running up to 500 metres per minute and comes fitted with the latest A RUN technology which minimises set-up time and also material waste. Whereas the slitting machine comes with laser technology for microperforation and macroperforation for multiple applications and allows us to handle numbering, barcodes, QR codes and security systems which would conventionally be done off-line on a flexo press. All investment in equipment supports our sustainable goals, reducing waste and our carbon footprint wherever we can.”
Roberts Mart made part of its original announcement as €4m and €500,000 in Euros – due to ongoing currency fluctuations, £3.4m and £430,000 are estimates based on exchange rates on the day of publishing.
Over £7m is being invested in a new warehouse extension / Picture: Roberts Mart
Roberts Mart supplies flexible packaging solutions for brands across the UK and Europe from its headquarters in Leeds. It employs 220 people and operates predominantly in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector for companies such as Highland Spring and John Cotton Group.