Michael Fabricant, MP for Lichfield, cutting the ribbon in the reception of the new factory together with the directors of Mercian Labels and invited guests
Mercian Labels has continued its expansion with a new factory in Burntwood, Staffordshire which was formally opened by Michael Fabricant, MP.
The label manufacturer recently purchased the site on the Plant Lane Business Park in Burntwood to continue its expansion as a result of demand for its digital and security labelling products.
The new factory represents a significant increase in capacity for the business that was previously based in Cannock. The company will be recruiting another 25 full time positions across its new Burntwood and existing Derby factories in the next three years to expand its team in a variety of roles including skilled production roles, apprenticeships, finance, marketing, sales, quality and management.
‘After seven consecutive years of growth we were experiencing significant overcrowding challenges’ explained managing director Dr Adrian Steele. ‘We identified this vacant former speedboat manufacturing facility earlier this summer as being ideal for our future needs and with support from our professional advisers we secured a quick transaction in early August. This allowed us to refit the site to our specification before moving the factory in October.’
‘The project has taken a lot of effort from everyone involved. Our staff have been amazing – everyone moved with us and the relocation itself went well ahead of schedule. The new factory will allow us to expand production to meet both domestic and export demand for our tamper evident and digital label and carton products for the next 10 years.
‘With a fantastic facility like this we can now grow to meet pent up customer demand for our products. We have already committed to significant new machinery investment for 2015 that we just couldn’t fit into our previous site, enabling us to increase production capacity. ‘Poised for further growth’ is one overused term, but now that our capacity constraints have been lifted we expect further significant growth in the next three years. It’s like taking the handcuffs off our team to get on and do what they do best,’ said Dr Steele.
The site was formally opened on 7 November by Michael Fabricant, MP for Lichfield, in the presence of 70 stakeholders including customers, suppliers, staff, local councillors and professional advisers. Unveiling a commemorative plaque at the factory, Mr Fabricant said, ‘I used to be a customer of Mercian Labels before I ever became an MP, so it was a genuine pleasure and a privilege to open their new facility in Burntwood. Mercian Labels are just one of four specialised security label printers in the world so it is great to see more high technology moving into Lichfield District. I hope to visit them again when their new production line is installed.’
