Coveris has completed a new centre of excellence for wicketted bags at its Hartlepool site, expanding production capacity for lightweight, recyclable packaging used in bakery, produce and sanitary goods.
The facility includes enhanced flexo printing capabilities, offering up to eight colours, which the company says will support both visual branding and technical performance.
The Hartlepool site is one of the UK’s largest manufacturing operations for wicketted bags and forms part of Coveris’ vertically integrated model. It draws on in-house extrusion, reprographics, platemaking, printing and conversion, a structure designed to shorten lead times and support ongoing product development.
The expanded operation centres on the company’s PE-based MonoFlex Lite monomaterial films, which are designed for recyclability and can be used in chilled, frozen and ambient conditions. The bags are available with features such as bottom gussets, captive flaps and resealable closures, and can also incorporate Coveris’ Freshlife technology, developed to extend shelf life.
Plant manager David Humes said the new capability would help Coveris meet seasonal demand, regulatory requirements and sustainability targets. “Our capabilities in extrusion, print and bag-making to brand and colour management are backed by years of experience and technical understanding,” he said.
Coveris is also expanding its recycling capacity through its ReCover Louth de-inking and recycling facility, which processes production waste from both the company and its customers to produce recycled resin for non-food contact packaging.
The Hartlepool site also holds a Gold EcoVadis sustainability rating and an AA+ BRCGS Packaging Materials Issue 7 certification.
