Leading cleaning and detergent manufacturer RP Adam Ltd (Arpal Group) is set to increase the production capacity at its Selkirk-based UK headquarters by more than 40 percent following a £125,000 investment in new filling line technology.
The company has installed a state-of-the-art six head multi-filling line with the capability to produce and additional 2.5 million litres of liquid product every year, with a run rate of up to 2,000 bottles every hour.
The new process, which transfers liquid detergent and cleaning fluid from mixing tanks to bottles ranging from 750ml to five litres in size, is part of Arpal Group’s five-year 20/20 investment programme geared to increasing turnover to £20 million by the year 2020.
In 2016, the company completed a £400,000 overhaul of its Selkirk HQ which included a major expansion and reconfiguration of the factory and warehouse facilities, resulting in a 40 percent increase in storage capacity at the Selkirk site, in line with increased business growth.
Martin Carroll, RP Adam’s Group Technical Director, believes the new filling line will give a significant boost to the company’s capabilities, as UK production volumes increase to match year-on-year sales growth.
“With several new long-term contracts bedded in and a number of supply partnerships starting to bear fruit, we decided now is the time to invest in improving the entire site – both from a capacity and operational standpoint,”he said.
“The new filling-line means that we now have the confidence and capability to significantly increase production when needed, as well as having the reassurance that we can continue to fulfil orders in the event of unplanned down-time with our other filling lines. This builds robustness into our business, and increases our ability to meet orders for our core products.”
RP Adam Ltd, which employs nearly 100 people,services customers across the UK as well as operating successful subsidiaries across the Middle East.
The Grouplaunched its company-wide 20/20 investment programme in 2015 as thefourth-generation family-owned business approached its 125thyear in business. And withthe manufacturing volume at Selkirk rising by 13 percent in the 2015/16 financial year, the company’s five-year £20 million turnover target is now in sight.
Group Sales & Marketing Director Max Adam, the fourth-generation Adam to be involved in the business added:“Our group goal ahead of 2020 is to use the, technology, experience and talent within the wider RP Adam family to expand the business at home and abroad - particularly in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia where we have a significant presence.
“It is an exciting time for the company and this technology investment at our factory further emphasises our desire to increase our manufacturing and logistics capabilities to match current and future growth.”