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Packaging Innovations equipment on site providing things like free cooling . All these features come together to support our net zero targets .”
Partnering with the right organizations is crucial when relying on science led innovation within the research and development process . Jonny explains iPac ’ s approach : “ We frequently engage with local research organizations including universities and catapult organizations in the North-East . Partnering with these groups means that we can utilize the local infrastructure and implement the scientific developments and pass the benefits down the supply chain to the customers .
“ One example is a bio-polymer development project that ran over a twoyear period , and involved producing a new formulation of biopolymers that that can functionally perform like PET . With
We frequently engage with local research organizations including universities and catapult organizations in the North-East
this project we partnered CPI . This approach is one of the main ways we collaborate with research organizations .”
Research led innovations have fueled consistent growth within the company to the extent that iPac has needed to take on a further production facility . Jonny details the process : “ When we opened our first facility in Gateshead , we thought it would last us for quite a few years , but within four years we had outgrown it . Our new second site is a larger mirror image of our Gateshead facility . It has a similar productive set-up and similar machinery , but with a much greater capacity . There is also a lot more stockholding space . This is really important for our customers . Within the food sector you must be able to react quickly and a big way that we do that is by holding a lot of stock .
“ As well as providing greater production and stocking capacity , the second plant also helps mitigate risk . If were ever to have problems on one site , the other facility won ’ t be affected . The second site also has sufficient space to facilitate the next few years of growth and expansion .”
The growth journey is far from over . “ In 2025 we will put in additional capacity ,” Jonny concludes . “ This will allow us to continue onboarding new customers as well as providing further support to existing clients as we continue growing into the second facility .” ■
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