Pope Packaging has completed the largest single project in its 70-year history, doubling printing capacity and increasing converting capacity at its South Australian paper sacks facility.
Image: Pope Packaging
The expansion lifts converting capacity by 50 per cent and adds warehousing, new technology and greater flexibility to the company’s existing Windmöller & Hölscher (W&H) manufacturing operation.
Pope Packaging says the investment will help it shorten lead times and hold more safety stock for customers in Australia and New Zealand. The company also expects local production capacity to reduce customers’ exposure to supply chain disruption and the amount of working capital tied up in inventory.
CEO and chair Craig Elkington said security of supply was a major reason for the investment.
“With our increased production capacity and footprint, Popes now offers unmatched security of supply, especially when compared to import alternatives,” Elkington said.
The project brings production and warehousing together on one site. New warehouse management software is intended to improve stock visibility and accuracy throughout the operation.
Manufacturing additions include eight-colour printing, digital pasting and inner patch capability. Pope Packaging says the inner patch technology will allow it to offer paper sack products that were previously unavailable in the Australian and New Zealand market.
The new W&H Miraflex II press can print photographic quality, eight-colour designs. The company says it can produce print for more than 1000 bags a minute. W&H’s RUBY system provides round-the-clock visibility of connected equipment to support production monitoring and improvement.
“What excites me most is being able to offer our customers world-class capability, right here in Adelaide, Australia,” said Matt Sullivan, general manager, Paper Sacks Australia.
The completed expansion gives Pope Packaging additional capacity to serve its regional customers while broadening the range of paper sacks it can manufacture locally.
