Linpac Group (GB-Birmingham B6 7HY) has brought on stream a fully integrated polystyrene foam and corrugated box plant at its Easterhouse, Glasgow, site to serve the Scottish electronics industry. The plant, the first of its kind in the UK, is the result of a GBP 12m investment spread over four years. It will create 30 jobs, as well as securing the positions of the existing 90 staff on a site previously dedicated to corrugated box production.

The new plant will process all its own raw materials and is designed to meet the needs of companies seeking to source their packaging from a single operation. The local electronics industry, which includes the production of an estimated 40% of all branded PCs sold in Europe, requires high volumes of corrugated boxes and foam packaging to protect their products as they move through the supply chain.

Linpac Scotland will design and produce all its packaging requirements at the plant, providing greater benefits for customers. This will include initiatives such as packaging assemblies and on-pack promotions. First customer for the plant is appliance manufacturer Hoover, with Linpac providing an estimated 16% saving on its packaging outlay.

Opening the new plant, Michael Cornish, chairman of the privately owned, GBP1 billion turnover Linpac Group, said: “Linpac is investing heavily in Scotland to provide a truly integrated packaging solution and grow its share of an even bigger market than we enjoy at present.”