Wilkins Group Presses Forward With £3.6 Million Investment

An award-winning packaging firm has invested £3.6m in peak performance equipment, securing its future as the biggest family run company in its sector.

Nottinghamshire headquartered Wilkins Group made the huge investment in machinery earlier this month when the team visited Drupa, the world's biggest printing equipment exhibition, in Dusseldorf, Germany.

The move is set to propel the £50m-turnover company towards its ambitious growth target of £70m within the next few years.

Deals were made for new high-end equipment including the Heidelberg Mastermatrix 106 CSB Die Cutting machine as well as a huge £2.7m investment in a Komori GLX740 printing press.

Justin Wilkins, joint managing director of Wilkins Group, said:

“This huge investment demonstrates our solid commitment to growth. As a family owned and run business, we have a responsibility to our staff and customers in the UK and overseas to ensure we can achieve and sustain growth within the industry."

“The purchases will further increase the capacity and efficiency of our manufacturing facility, securing future growth.”

The Mastermatrix 106 CSB is the newest addition to Masterwork’s range of die-cutters. It has been specifically optimized for higher machine speeds, handling an impressive 9,000 sheets per hour, and has the ability to tackle unusual or challenging carton designs, which Wilkins Group has a reputation for producing.

The new Komori printing press, which can handle up to 18,000 impressions per hour, includes a double coater, used to apply two varnishes in line allowing its customers to design really eye-catching products with a high-quality finish.

With a maximum sheet size of 750x1050mm, the press has an asynchronous automatic plate change (AAPC) capability, automatic blanket cleaner and a new, energy efficient DC blower.

Aron Wilkins, joint managing director with his brother Justin, said:

“This next generation equipment bolsters our already state-of-the-art fleet of machines. These new additions alone will help to increase productivity by 17% and really enhance the finish of our products.”

In November 2022, the firm added a Komori Lithrone GLX40 press to its already impressive portfolio when it opened its multi-million-pound, 50,000 sq ft Phase 3 factory extension.

The new equipment purchased at Drupa will be installed at the Wilkins Group’s UK headquarters, a three-acre site at Colwick Industrial Estate, where food packaging for many of the UK’s leading supermarkets is produced.

For more information about the Wilkins Group, visit here.