"We have grown phenomenally in China and it's time to invest in more machinery," said Terry Cross, chairman of Delta Packaging (pictured).
The cash will buy two Heidelberg presses, a six-colour with coater and a two-over-two perfector.
Delta Packaging launched its joint-venture company in 1996 and the offshoot boasts four of the world's biggest mobile phone companies as clients. Motorola, NEC, Samsung and Nokia rack up around 7.5m of work a year for Delta.
Huabei Delta Print and Packaging employs 360 staff in a 12,000m2 depot in Qian'an City. It supplies solid board, corrugated and litho-laminated cartons along with paper-foam packaging.
It also works for drug and electronics companies in China and is in talks with two big fast-food chains. The Belfast firm produces cartons for McDonald's and KFC.
"The joint venture has had a positive impact on our Belfast operation by giving us international exposure and capability on two continents," said Cross.
Story by Jez Abbott
