Sirane ready for 2010 expansion
The UK’s premier packaging solutions company, Sirane Ltd, is preparing for a fresh uptake of its packaging innovations as the New Year gets underway.
Simon Balderson, Sirane Director, says that ‘for some time now we have been informing, consulting with and leading the market in terms of our absorbent food packaging and its capabilities. This ‘sampling’ phase is now coming to an end – and turning into full-blown production demand. Our Flower-Fresh pack is landing bulk orders as is our soft-fruit based packaging. Fruit Logistica in Berlin next February and the UK’s Foodex-Meatex exhibition in March 2010 will also see us unveiling significant new innovations in other areas of food packaging. We have great expectations of next year – and expect to be able to make further acquisitions and enhancements to the business.’
Balderson hints that in early 2010 Sirane will be launching a revolutionary range of products which will launch the company into new areas. These include a complete range of fully compostable barrier and permeable films for meat and produce packaging. ‘We are developing the Sirane model of flexible response and client service – and intend to drive it into new areas. Retailers, supermarkets, and packer fillers are increasingly happy to accept integrated package solutions – and at Sirane we are more than happy to investing in our one-stop-packaging shop capabilities,’ he notes.
Sirane’s acquisition of Hereford-based Thomas and Green (T&G) last year succeeded in: boosting the company’s capabilities in healthcare markets with new products such as Cellosene; in a general increase in total business; and in its general expertise in absorbent packaging. Says Balderson, ‘we have been busy integrating and learning from our acquisition through 2009; investing in new machinery and in honing our innovations and our matrix of absorbent packaging solutions. Our sales are seeing growth in all five continents of the world and our Stafford Park Telford base has been extended to 70,000 sq ft and strengthened with investment, certification and recent recruitment. The credit crunch has played a part in the packaging industry for the past twelve months but we managed to leverage our advantages where we can.’
Balderson points out that supermarket retailing businesses have largely bucked the recessionary trends of the past 15 months. ‘International food continues to innovate – and continues to need better packaging – more functional; more ergonomic – lower carbon footprint – in other words, the solutions which we provide. The buoyancy in these marketplaces will be hard to put down in the coming months. Whatever the state of the mortgage, consumers appear to currently continue to invest in their food and drink.’
Sirane’s growth in absorbency-based packaging has been based on a customer-driven operation; paying particular attention to commercial matters such as shortening order lead-times and delivery. The company’s innovations in the compostable/degradable packaging area – marketed under the Dri-Fresh Resolve brands – have also been setting the pace for the industry supply-side and been winning friends and orders in the retail and supermarketing worlds. Over 35% of Sirane’s current sales are based on products that were not manufactured one year ago.
By any standard the commercial growth and success of Sirane has been impressive: The Telford-based business now employs some 90 people and has grown to a £8million plus turnover from a standing start in 2003. Balderson pledges that 'we are aiming to make Sirane the safest and most hygienic food packaging company in Europe.'
More info:
www.sirane.com