Parkside Makes Investment In Malaysia

Speciality packaging manufacturer, Parkside, is to significantly invest in its Malaysian operations to ensure its growing customer base in the Asia region can access the same high quality innovation and service as in Europe. A new slitter and full plate making technology is to be installed enabling the site in Kuala Lumpur to be self-sufficient from receipt of design through to end product shipment. In addition, a 10-colour flexographic press will be transferred there from Parkside’s UK site. Commenting on the investment, John Taylor, general manager at Parkside Asia, said: “The print and packaging industry in Asia is beginning to accept and recognise the cost and efficiency advantages that flexographic printing can bring to their operations. “As a leading player in this field in Europe, Parkside is eager to demonstrate its abilities in Asia and ensure its increasing number of customers in the region have access to local facilities and capabilities. This investment will enable us to offer our international customers the high level of service they are used to from our UK operations and for Asia to build on this strength with local manufacturing, service and support.” The investment will also result in a faster turnaround service and significantly reduce current lead times ensuring customers can respond to changing market demands quickly. With the new machinery expected to be in place by end of Q2, print operators from Malaysia have been working at the company’s UK site in West Yorkshire to learn more about the operation of each piece of technology so that they can train colleagues back in Malaysia and ensure any downtime is kept to a minimum during installation. The site in Malaysia employs more than 40 people and primarily manufactures and prints packaging for the tobacco industry. Parkside is also focused on growing its reach into specialty packaging for the food and beverage markets in the region in line with its core strategy in Europe.