The Shipley, Yorkshire-based company said the “six-figure investment” in the Bobst Visionfoil 104 follows “significant growth” at the business and increased demand for foil finishes, particularly among the company’s packaging customers.
These include Hotel Chocolat and others in the high-end gifting, cosmetics, and drinks markets.
The new machine, which was fully operational as of mid-June, is capable of foiling 7,500sph and complements the capacity of Herbert Walkers’ three existing Bobst foiling machines.
The business has already recruited an additional foiling machine operator and is currently seeking another.
As part of a long-term strategy for the finishing department, the company is also investing in the refurbishment of one of its existing foiling machines, which it said will extend the lifetime of the kit and underpin reliability, quality, and capacity.
Herbert Walkers managing director Mike Lammas said: “We have an enviable reputation for the quality of our foil finishes and this investment will enable us to build on that strength with increased capacity and consistent quality.
“The new equipment will also be faster for makereadies and will enable us to optimise settings for repeat print runs.
“As we continue to expand our packaging client base, our investment in this new machine, alongside our focus on optimising our existing assets and growing our team, will ensure we are prepared for increasingly sophisticated packaging design and continuing increases in demand.”
Bobst area sales manager Lee Alton added: “We have a long-established relationship with Herbert Walkers, having supported the company through a number of significant investments over the course of the past decade.
“Herbert Walkers positions itself as a leader and pioneer in packaging production and is committed to investing in machinery and equipment that makes zero-fault packaging a reality for them and their customers.”
In its most recently filed accounts at Companies House, for the year ended 31 March 2020, Herbert Walkers recorded a turnover of £13.5m, up from £12.7m the previous year.
