One of the UK’s large packaging specialists is celebrating this morning after securing another prestigious business award at a glittering ceremony in the Staffordshire.
Lesters, which employs over 60 people at its state-of-the-art Burntwood facility, was named ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ at the Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards 2022.
The company beat off high-profile competition to scoop the accolade in front of hundreds of people at DoubleTree by Hilton.
It impressed the judging panel with its commitment to the region, investing £7m into new technology for the packaging sector and creating 15 new jobs in a wide range of positions.
With demand rising from the automotive, healthcare and online shopping area, Lesters has seen sales rise by 120% and has put in place a three-year blueprint to hit £25m turnover.
Billy Hutchinson, Managing Director, commented: “Coming on the back of our wins in the equally prestigious Express & Star Business Awards, this additional accolade is a real reward for our amazing team, who have gone above and beyond to support the growth of the business.”
The last twelve months have been transformational for Lesters, the UK’s leading specialist in big box packaging for the aerospace, automotive, bike manufacturing, mail order and third-party logistics space.
Growth has been driven by investment in skills and, importantly, a £7m investment programme that has resulted in the installation of a new TCY Jumbo Casemaker (first of its type to be operational in the UK) and the impending arrival of a TCY N6 3 colour casemaker machine.
These acquisitions have helped the company reduce lead times and increase capacity from a combined 180 boxes per minute to over 360 – essential if it is going to meet planned expansion targets.
Billy concluded: “The Staffordshire Chamber Business Awards reinforce that the recent actions we’ve taken are working and we’re heading in the right direction. We’ll hopefully use this success to win new business and support our desire to be an employer of choice in the West Midlands.”
