Qualkem (formerly Repclif Chemical Services), based in Crewe, has installed new tube labelling and filling machinery specifically for short production runs.
The £57,500 technology investment, supported by a £20,000 grant from Made Smarter’s North West adoption programme, will also give the company visibility and access to valuable production data to drive continuous improvement across its processes.
Ivan Anketell-Clifford, director, said: “Introducing the automatic tube labelling and filling machinery will see the start of our commitment to digitalisation. Not only will it allow us to offer another packaging regime to our existing customer base, but it will also allow us to actively market to new sectors, for example cosmetics.
“The new Rigao machinery is going to make a huge difference to our company’s future and will help us achieve our true potential. Moreover, this digitalisation project will allow us to offer customers the ability to source green chemistry in green packaging, driving more sustainably packaged products into the marketplace, doing our bit for society and the environment.”
Launched by chemical engineer Robert Frazer and industrial chemist Doug Holt in 1971, as Repclif Chemical Services, the business has been run by Robert’s son-in-law Ivan and daughter Rachael over the past two years. It was rebranded as Qualkem in January.