How Innovia Films has global success wrapped up

Innovia Films is the Cumbrian-headquartered manufacturer whose market-leading products touch millions of people's lives across the world every day.

Its products are present in everything from bank notes to the labels on shampoo bottles and cigarette wrappers to bags containing salad.

Innovia Films also owns the copyright for Cellophane™ which is used universally for packaging foods among other products. The company - which specialises in the production of Cellulose films and Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) - can trace its roots in Wigton back to 1933.

Today, it is a state-of-the-art business which last year had sales of Euro 400m (around £330 m) and employs 1,400 people across three continents. Its total annual film capacity currently stands at more than 120,000 tonnes.

Board member and international sales and marketing director Alexander van 't Riet said that he was in no doubt about just what an important role the Northwest has played in the company's development and success. Mr van 't Riet said: "A customer survey which we recently undertook revealed three findings.

"First of all, it showed that one of the reasons why our products are successful is because of their consistently high standard.

"Next, it revealed that our clients appreciate the quality of technical support they receive from us.

"And finally, it showed that the customer service they get from Innovia Films is another reason why they return to us.

"Cumbria might not be the most obvious place for a company like ours which has such a wide global presence, but we recognise that we are an important part of the local economy.

"And in return we also recognise that our staff are totally dedicated - and it's not a coincidence that a large part of the customer service and technical support mentioned in the survey are based in Wigton."

Innovia Films’ major production site is based in Cumbria and it’s from here that both Cellulose and BOPP are manufactured - and the vast majority of the firm's research and development programme takes place.

In total, around 900 staff are based at the Wigton factory and offices, making it one of the town’s major employers.
The company also has a manufacturing site in America, where Cellulose film is produced, and another in Belgium, which manufactures BOPP.

Innovia Films’ factory in Australia produces BOPP in addition to working with the Reserve Bank of Australia to manufacture the base material for the country's bank notes.

This joint venture is known as the ‘securency international’. The base film it manufactures for the bank notes gives them a much longer life than normal notes as well as making them much harder to copy.

Mr van 't Riet adds: "When I visit Australia, it's a fantastic feeling to know that our products are present in those bank notes which everyone uses as part of their everyday lives.

"It's a part of the business which remains small when compared with other aspects - but we are seeing continued growth in the number of countries and denominations which are converting to polymer notes. Today polymer notes are in circulation in more than 31 countries."

The greatest amount of products made by Innovia Films - 45 percent - are from its ' packaging' division which produces wrapping for food products including biscuits, confectionary and fresh produce (like salads).

Around 25 percent of its sales are from its division which produces labels for both home and personal care items - like shampoos - which frequently need to be waterproof.

A further 20 percent of its business is from packaging used for wrapping cigarettes while the final 10 percent is from the previously mentioned 'securency' joint venture producing bank note base material.

The company �" which is a member of regional industry organisation Chemicals Northwest �" also places an emphasis on the environment.

Mr van 't Riet said: “Cellulose film begins life as a natural product - wood. This raw material is sourced exclusively from plantations operating sustainable forestry principles and our suppliers confirm with the environmental standard ISO 14000.

"We also manufacture a range called NatureFlex which is fully compostable.
Our customers want products which are sustainable and we ensure that we can cater for that demand.

Mr van ’t Riet adds that a major reason for Innovia Films’ success is because the company is driven by research and development. He says: “We also have an investment programme which is designed to ensure that resources are in place to convert our new ideas into innovative, world class products.

"Two years ago we launched a Euro 10m (around £8.3m) investment programme in a brand new Cellulose production line here in Cumbria. We’ve also recently launched another major investment programme to maximise the potential of coating our products. We are anticipating further growth in the future as the economic situation improves.

"That’s why we are investing now to ensure that we remain the first choice for our customers around the world.”