Lesters packages up £2 million HQ move

A packaging manufacturer is investing more than £2 million in a new Staffordshire headquarters to support further growth.

Lesters is taking on a 101,000sq ft site near Watling Street in Cannock, providing additional manufacturing, warehousing and office space.

Bosses say the expansion will initially create ten jobs, with high-volume flatbed die-cutting, specialist manufacturing and distribution operations expected to be running from November.

They add the move will also allow Lesters to transform its existing Mount Road factory in Burntwood into a high-volume production centre of excellence, with office staff set to relocate to Cannock by the new year.

Billy Hutchinson, managing director of Lesters, said: “This is a clear signal of our intent to be at £30 million annual revenues by 2030.

“We’d outgrown our current footprint and, when the Hawkins Drive opportunity came up, it was an easy decision to expand and refocus our operations to make us more efficient and give our customers access to even greater capacity.

“Whilst our high-volume manufacturing will continue in Burntwood, the new site will be our administrative centre, warehousing and stores, not to mention home to lower volume  and specialist packaging manufacture.”

Employing 64 people, the company specialises in large-format corrugated cases and high-performance packaging, supporting customers across the logistics, ecommerce, freight-forwarding and automotive sectors.

Its wider offer includes design, recycling and logistics services, with the business capable of producing and delivering tens of millions of boxes annually.

The additional capacity will also allow Lesters to explore investment in a second TCY Jumbo Casemaker, having installed its first in 2021.

Following several years of growth, the company is targeting a further 25 per cent increase in sales within three years and 50 per cent over the next decade.

Billy added: “This will see us invest in a new strapping line, new waste extraction system, a new two-piece stitcher and a state-of-the-art conveyor system that will reduce the number of manual movements required.

“This technology has played a key role in our consistent growth, so the opportunity to get a second TCY Jumbo Casemaker would be transformational in taking us to the next level.”

“Talks with the equipment manufacturer are going well and we expect to have the second machine operational within 18 months.”

Want your business, product or service to be seen regionally and nationally? Bdaily helps you get your story in front of the right audience, every day. Find out how Bdaily can help →

Join more than 55,000 subscribers by signing up to our daily bulletin each morning here.