Summer 2024 saw us reach an important milestone, as we realised our long-held ambition to become a metal packaging manufacturer. Our factory has been up and running for a few months now, and tonnes of Invopak-made tins have been delivered to our customers across the UK.
The move to Manufacturing is a huge step for us, taking years of preparation, planning and serious long-term investment. So why did we take this leap of faith to go into packaging production? And why did we choose to do it with tins?
Why Manufacture?
There are several important reasons why the time was right for us to become a manufacturer as well as a distributor.
Service
Invopak's longevity as a distributor has been built from a customer-first starting point, and service has been central to our decision to manufacture our own tins.
Manufacturing is massively important because it gives us control over planning for our customers and the products they need. As we manufacture, store and distribute in the UK our lead times are much shorter than overseas producers, and we can be flexible and responsive to each customers needs.
It means we are in control of what packaging is made and when so that we can provide that excellent service and reliable supply our customers need to run their businesses.
Competitive Pricing
Ordering directly from the Invopak factory means you can access excellent manufacturer pricing. Our modern custom-built packaging plant is designed with efficiency in mind.
As a manufacturer we have industry expertise and an insider's insight into raw-material and legislative changes, so we can plan ahead, making sure we deliver a great product at an always competitive price.
Making in the UK also means transport and import costs will be reduced, so we can pass those cost-savings onto our customers.
Supply Chain Security
The complexities of supply chains and volatile global markets has meant getting goods into the country is more difficult and lead times have been unreliable. This has accelerated the need for UK-based manufacturing.
Arjen Cooper-Rolfe our CEO explains that one of the key reasons for opening our own manufacturing plant was to ensure we could supply the packaging our customers need when they need it,
“Manufacturing, as well as sourcing, storing, and delivering packaging products, means that we’re in control of another major part of the process, strengthening our ability to supply the packaging our customers rely on to run their businesses.”
Being a UK manufacturer reduces our exposure to external risks such as continental transport issues, EU tariffs, bad weather, industrial action and global volatility.
Why Choose Metal Packaging?
Sustainability
Metal is one of the most sustainable packaging options. Unlike plastic, metal recycles forever with no loss of quality. As Scott Sandilands our CRO explains,
"Metal has a big future. It's 100% recyclable, and this plant means that we can serve our customers better, with products made here in the UK"
Sustainability is also a political issue, particularly when it comes to plastic and plastic waste. Environmental taxes such as plastic packaging tax are here to stay and are increasing annually, so the price of plastic products will continue to rise. The price difference between metal and plastic is narrowing every year.
Public sentiment is also moving away from plastic and towards metal. Metal packaging is the positive choice.
Market Need
The metal manufacturing industry is ripe for change. As Paul Littlehales our Commercial Director explains,
“The industry we operate in is fast-paced and constantly evolving, whereas the manufacturing of containers, particularly tins, is a historically static marketplace. We identified that we could offer a manufacturing solution with a distributor-level service."
Our factory enables us to bring a fresh experience to manufacturing, where service, quality and price are equally important.
Discover More
Scott Sandilands, discusses our move to manufacturing in more detail in our latest video;
