(L-R) Production operation, Richard Skillicorn, managing director, Dale Deacon, and production planner, Stephen Williams, with the solar panel installation
With a £1 million spend in three new Omega label converting machines and the installion of 750 solar panels covering almost its entire 3000 square metre roof, Watermill has future proofed its business.
It is among the first companies in the UK to deploy the latest 530 mm wide machines, designed and manufactured by AB Graphic International.
All three converting lines are fully servo driven and have automatic tail and leader label stripping capability. They are linked directly to heavy duty, Vectra turret rewinders and one line is fitted with three flexo print stations and adhesive printing facilities.
Six new members of staff have been employed in the past 12 months to manage and operate the new machinery. Managing director, Dale Deacon, said, ‘Our investment is customer-driven after feedback from our clients highlighted their needs for high quality products, faster lead times, more volume and lower production costs.
‘This new machinery is the best available anywhere in the world and client feedback has been tremendous. Our commercial partners need stable and established suppliers who are tuned into their market and who have the expertise to deliver financial and operationally improvements through the deployment of new cutting edge production techniques. Investing in technology is one of our key strategies for staying at the forefront on quality and price.’
Meanwhile on the roof of its Pitcliffe Way headquarters, in West Bowling, a 111 kW system has been fitted by Leeds Solar. This will provide 75% of the factory’s future electricity demand and save in the region of £20,000 a year in electricity bills when coupled with payments from the Government’s Feed-in Tariff scheme.
Mr Deacon added, ‘For any business with a large roof, it makes complete commercial and environmental sense. Our production floor has a large number of the world’s most sophisticated label converting machinery that run for 12 hours per day, using a great deal of electricity.’
