Construction is “confidently expected” to begin in early 2003, with full production coming on-stream in mid-2004. Kaspar Walter, KBA and Muller Martini will be the principal equipment suppliers.
The new operation, Equator, has been planned for the last 12 months and, said chief executive James Elliot, “has been designed specifically to combat the erosion of print from the UK to large gravure plants in continental Europe”.
“We estimate that well in excess of 50% of the UK’s gravure print is currently imported,” he added, “and see there is a massive opportunity for a business willing to invest in the latest technology to produce a world-class operation for UK customers.”
Howitt said the operation, which had been the subject of mounting speculation in recent weeks, had been “planned in accordance with specific customer requirements”.
It has also been backed by the GPMU. “An investment of this scale and importance is not just good news for the industry but an exciting opportunity for this country,” said national officer Mike Griffiths. “For too long we have seen work lost from the gravure plants in this country.”
