Priory Press Packaging creates jobs thanks to £1m investment

Now commissioned, the highly efficient press, which features a fully automated plate changing and make-ready process to ensure print and colour accuracy and minimise waste, has boosted production throughput to 15,000 sheets per hour, a considerable increase in production capacity compared to the firm’s previous system.

Investment in its new industrial Komori press comes as the firm aims to grow its business in the pharmaceutical market.

Established in 1976 by Ernest McConville, Priory Press Packaging operated as a commercial printing company producing promotional leaflets and brochures for local businesses before adapting to specialise in the production of consumer food packaging 15 years ago.

Today, under the direction of Ernest’s son and company managing director Mark McConville, Priory Press Packaging specialises in lithographic printed packaging for a broad range of markets and sectors, including packaging for consumer food and health and beauty products. As a BRCGS High Hygiene AA Grade certified business, Priory Press Packaging was already well positioned to capitalise on opportunity to expand its operations into the tightly legislated and monitored pharmaceutical market.

To further demonstrate its capability of producing packaging to the correct industry standards, the firm’s new Komori press features a PDF comparator system which provides quality assurance for important information on pharmaceutical packaging by analysing text, colour and more. This automated electronic checking process both eliminates human error and avoids costly wastage caused by misprints.

Priory Press Packaging is now working towards achieving its pharmaceutical packaging ISO certifications later this year.

Declan Napier, Relationship Director at Lombard said: “Mark and the team at Priory Press Packaging adapted their business once before having identified a gap in the market for consumer packaging. The strict quality and hygiene standards required for consumer food products mean that the business is already very well structured to diversify into the growing pharmaceutical market on the island of Ireland. We’re very pleased to provide the funding that has enabled Priory Press Packaging to invest in the right technology to achieve its ambitious growth plans.”

Mark McConville, Managing Director at Priory Press Packaging added: “This is the single largest investment we have ever made in the business. We recognise that investing in the right equipment to allow us to diversify into pharmaceuticals comes at a significant capital expenditure. The finance facility offered by Lombard has meant that we’ve been able to acquire and commission an asset that will drive growth in a strategic market sector for us over the next 15 years while also improving the quality and efficiency of our current production output.”

Invest NI has worked with Priory Press Packaging for the past 11 years and has supported them financially towards its latest investment.

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