The firm has won a large contract with Sonoco Europe, including Pillsbury Dough spiral wind cartons, enabling it to make the investment.

Technical director Alan Heaslip said the company hoped to expand its presence in Europe, which accounts for 50% of its 16m turnover.

The new press, which will be installed in April, has a web width of one metre and will run at a maximum speed of 450 metres a minute. It has been tailored to exclusively handle its customers requirements, with the last two units applying coldseal and the eighth unit also able to apply a special.

The Rotomec will join a six-colour and an eight-colour Rotomec 2000-1 gravure press, both with web widths of 80cm, but an existing six-colour Rotomec will be mothballed.

Brand Packaging counts Wrigleys, Eastman Kodak, Lever Bros, Gallaher and Ryvita among its customers.

Story by Rachel Barnes