LVF Invests in Kiefel Machinery

Leeds Vacuum Formers (LVF), UK, announced the order for a KMD 78 SPEEDFORMER

packaging europe, United Kingdom Released: 08/12/2014   Leeds Vacuum Formers (LVF), the West Yorkshire-based thermoformed packaging specialist, has invested £530,000 in two new pieces of machinery that it says will increase its capacity by 25 per cent and lead to the creation of five new jobs in the short term.   The company, which has enjoyed at least 10 per cent growth per annum for the last six years, this month placed orders for a £400,000 Kiefel Thermoforming machine and a Siropack padding line costing £130,000.   Nigel Coates, managing director of LVF, said: “The growth we’ve enjoyed over the last few years has been the result of hard work and significant investment back into the business.” “Looking forward, we felt the time was right to spend again – not only to help us maintain the kind of business growth we’ve become accustomed to, but to provide the capacity and capabilities needed to grow even more quickly.”   Manufactured in Germany by Kiefel, the KMD 78 Speedformer is the world’s best-selling thermoforming machine. It is designed to enable the rapid and low cost production of rigid plastic packaging products, and when delivered to LVF in early June 2015 will be the company’s third such machine.   Meanwhile, the Siropack SR08 padding line will allow LVF to bring in-house the insertion of fabric soaker pads into thermoformed rigid plastic trays. The work, which is currently out-sourced, is anticipated to be worth at least £70k to the business in the first year alone.   “This investment puts us in an extremely strong position in terms of being able to extend the level of service we offer existing customers, and being able to go out to the market safe in the knowledge we have the capacity to deliver what new customers want, when they want it.” “And with the increased capacity comes the job creation – something we’ll be looking at early in 2015.”   LVF’s recent investments included £100,000 spent on the expansion of its tool room and the purchase of a third CNC milling machine earlier this year. This followed £50,000 being spent on a second CNC milling machine in 2013 and £400,000 being invested in a Kiefel thermoforming line in 2012. The company has also invested £90,000 in a variety of green initiatives over the last 12-months, which have significantly benefitted the both itself and the environment.   packaging europe ... http://www.packagingeurope.com/Packaging-Europe-News/61394/LVF-Invests-in-Machinery.html