Parkside bumps up Darton op

Parkside International has rigged up a new press at its plant in Darton, near Barnsley, as it looks to move forward after job losses at its Stoke plant.

The eight-colour Windmller & Hlscher Novoflex went in around the time the packaging group announced 70 losses at Stoke (PrintWeek, 3 July).

It rolls off print for snacks, bakery and personal-care items and was bought for its wide-width work, speeds of 600m a minute and fast job changeover.

Parkside winds up its Stoke plant in October and will split machinery between its factories at Darton and Normanton.

Half of the 140 staff at Stoke were offered relocation to Yorkshire. Chris Elliott, group marketing executive, didnt have exact details on staff take-up of the offer or the division of kit.

The new press is the fourth Novoflex at Parkside.