The Newcastle-headquartered firm said the deal, which was completed in July, would strengthen its position in premium packaging markets and open up opportunities for the brand to expand.

All 20 of Spreckley’s staff, including its two former owners, have remained with the firm following the acquisition, boosting Elanders UK’s total headcount to nearly 240.

Elanders UK managing director Chris Hewitt said the deal would enable the company to increase its in-house stringing services.

“Spreckley is a terrific and synergistic addition to our portfolio. The acquisition will allow us to expand our offering and provide clients with a host of new services in both new and existing sectors.

“This purchase, coupled with our recent multi-million investment into new litho, digital printing and finishing technology, will undoubtedly improve company productivity, efficiency and capacity, as well as help us expand into new markets.”

Spreckley managing director Trevor Jackson added: “Elanders UK is a highly respected business and it has a commitment to quality that chimes well with the ethos we have built over the last 30 years at Spreckley.

“We are therefore delighted to be joining forces and look forward to a long and mutually successful relationship.”

Elanders UK’s turnover was £27.5m in 2016 and Hewitt said the acquisition would take it over the £30m mark. Spreckley will remain based at its 2,230sqm Nottingham site and its branding will be retained.

The Spreckley purchase follows Elanders UK’s 2013 acquisition of Scottish drinks packaging specialist McNaughtan’s; a move which allowed the company access to key consumer drinks brands. Hewitt said the firm may look at further acquisitions in specialist packaging and digital businesses in the future.

Earlier this year Elanders UK purchased a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106-8-P long perfector to increase its ability to handle long-run print work for the educational, publishing, automotive and brand marketing sectors. This followed its installation of a second HP Indigo 6800 at its Bellshill site last September.