Clipper Teas celebrated its 25th year of production by re-vamping the packaging for its range of Everyday, Green and Speciality Teas. Such was the success for the Dorset-based company that it needed a new over wrapper to cope with increased demand and improve the overall quality and feel of the packs.
The company turned to Marden Edwards (ME) which speedily provided an Evofold wrapper in just one week from the order being placed.
Steve Norris, engineering manager at Clipper Teas, explained: “The existing wrapper had been bought second hand and was no longer fit for purpose and was becoming unreliable. We had a very old ME machine on another line which has always been dependable, despite its code number of 666! So when we looked around for a replacement we contacted ME first.”
Currently the machine is wrapping boxes of 80 teabags with dimensions of 70x65x130mm at speeds of 25 packs/minute.
“The speed of delivery was very helpful as it meant we could increase efficiency and throughput quickly. Since its arrival it has coped with all the demands we have made on it,” added Norris.
“While it is the fastest machine on the factory floor, reliability and flexibility were key factors”, he said. “We needed a universal machine which could adapt to two or three formats and cope with peaks and troughs in demand. Currently we are producing 1,500 packs/hour.”
The individual boxes are then manually placed in Retail Ready Packs prior to despatch to the customer.
“The Evofold gives us the high quality wrap we need but is a straightforward machine simple to operate and maintain,” concluded Norris.
Thanks to advances in component manufacturing technology the Evofold wrapper has a higher specification than many more expensive machines on offer, according to ME. Today it is the company’s ‘entry level’ machine, yet can perform to levels seen previously only on more sophisticated equipment.
Since the re-designed packs were introduced at the end of 2008 Clipper Teas has seen an increase in both demand and retailer listings. Started in 1984 by Mike and Lorriane Brehme, the company began introducing Fairtrade products in 1994. It now employs 80 people in its Beaminster facility producing a range of teas, coffees and chocolate beverages.
Marden Edwards Limited
Mike Patey, Commercial Director
Tel: 01202 861 200
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