News
Click here for our most recent Newsletter - October 2011
Committed to FSC - February 2012
We all operate in an industry that is completely au fait with the Forest Stewardship Council and the principles behind it - it’s not something we tend to shout about these days but we’ve now taken our environmental commitments a step further by pledging to print our newsletter and other marketing collateral - only on FSC material. The newsletter has previously been printed on FSC certified material but we have made the decision to only ever ordering printing and board on stock that is accredited under the Forest Stewardship Council. We have also paid our subscription to become a ‘Supporter’ of FSC UK and we hope to become more involved with this organisation during 2012.
Going up in the world - February 2012
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We are going to be upgrading our forklift truck in the very near future so we’re currently trialling a new Toyota Traigo 48. The truck is easy to use, even in the tightest of situations and is capable of moving loads of up to 1.5 tonnes and Toyota Material Handling promote the truck as being particularly reliable, ergonomically well designed and safe to use. Toyota state that they ‘pride themselves on being committed to environmentally responsible business practices through the four product life-cycle stages of the forklift – from development, manufacturing and operation through to recycling.’ The trucks are produced in an ISO accredited factory and their components are 99% recyclable. |
BRC accreditation- update - February 2012
We are pleased to announce that we have appointed the services of Linden Management to assist us in our journey in becoming BRC accredited. They come highly recommended from our Industry and we are delighted that they have experience in our particular sector. We are hopeful of achieving the standard in the first six months of 2012………watch this space!
Christmas card charity donation - January 2012
Once again we pledged to make a donation for every Christmas card we sent out; making it the seventh year that we have donated to Treetops Hospice in Risley, Derbyshire. We design our own cards but we are still keen to ensure that a charity has benefited in some way. We were pleased to send a cheque for £150 to this fabulous charity who work tirelessly throughout the year in order to meet their target of raising the £1.4 million needed to provide respite care for adults with terminal illnesses such as cancer, motor neurone disease and end stage heart disease. Sadly, the organisation has suffered two burglaries in recent months with laptops and cash being stolen and perhaps, even more upsetting – they ransacked the place as well, causing damage to doors and windows along the way. If ever there was a time to donate, it would be now.
To find out more about Treetops, visit their web site - www.treetopshospice.org.uk . They have a ‘Just Giving’ page should you wish to make a donation.
Major investment in a new Heiber + Schröder CE1000 Nested Tray Former - January 2012
After the Heiber + Schröder CE1000 nested tray forming machine was installed, we appeared in the January/February issue of the Folding Carton Industry magazine in a three page spread. Extracts from the article are detailed below;
“The way we tend to work is that we will dip our toe into a particular market to see if we can help deliver some added value to our customers,” says David Woodyatt, managing director of fc cartons.
"The decision to choose this machine was based largely on the wide range of nested trays that can be folded and glued, along with the reliability of the machine. “We tested the market with a pre-owned machine and then went looking for a larger more productive unit,” commented David. “The experience we gained of Heiber + Schroder from the window patcher we purchased a couple of years ago was that the equipment was very robust and that we could rely on them for service. We then went to last year’s IPEX and saw their CE1000 in action and the team were very impressed.”
Another key factor in the choice of machine was the ability to have a variety of extra functions added as the market dictates. We have had a huge level of interest from customers in the short time we have had the machine up and running and if the predictions are right and this trend continues - we will be adding an extra lane in the new year and it is this adaptability that is crucial.
The Heiber + Schröder’s versatility enables us to handle a wide range of sizes and substrates including those made from coated materials used for moist or wet foods, often designed with an integral lid or window and we’ve certainly seen an increase in the popularity of these as a more sustainable form of packaging because the material is biodegradable and can be recycled. "
For the Folding Carton Industry website see www.brunton.co.uk
Donation in support of Urostomy Association's 40th Anniversary - November 2011
Last month we made a £50 donation to the Urostomy Association after being told of the extra special fund-raising efforts being made by volunteers of the association to mark their 40th anniversary. The charity offers support to those people who are about to undergo surgery and to those who have already been through this type of surgery, many of whom will have lost their bladder due to cancer. The charity also funds research and development into infections and appliance issues.
Should you wish to add your support to this amazing charity, please go to - https://www.urostomyassociation.org.uk/home.php
Air Ambulance Donation - November 2011
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fc cartons recently made a £100 donation to Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance in support of the fantastic rescue service provided by the charity. The many rescue missions undertaken are never far from our directors thoughts as they live very near to the organisation’s base at Castle Donington, so they get to hear the helicopter take off from East Midlands Airport at all times of the day and night. The helicopters bring senior doctors and consultants to the scene of accidents as quickly as possible; transporting the patient to either the nearest hospital or a specialist unit for specific types of injury. The organisation doesn’t receive Government or Lottery funding, so relies entirely on donations and fund-raising efforts in order to keep the helicopter running. We have been invited to go up to meet the crew and to have a look around the base - so hopefully, a couple of the lads will be popping over there very soon. DLRAA's primary response area is the 2,100 square miles of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, covering a population of over 1.4 million people. If you would like to do your bit for the charity, please go to http://www.dlraa.co.uk or call 08454 130999 |
Hosting an Industry Day - December 2011
Towards the end of November we hosted an ‘Industry Day’ on behalf of Castle Donington Community College, our local secondary school. This is the third time we have been asked to show students around and explain what is we do here at fc cartons and it was a pleasure to welcome them back for their Industry Day. These year nine students aged 13/14 saw the production lines in action and heard the ‘story of the carton - through fc cartons’
They were shown the various stages the carton passes through - from securing the order through to delivery back to the customer; with input from each department along the way. In order to relate the visit to the needs of the students we demonstrated the individual roles within our company which, of course, could apply to any manufacturing company throughout the UK. During our talk we identified through charts on the wall, the various attributes and skills needed for each role and the challenges faced for individuals in various departments and how we all work as a team.
It would appear we are firmly on the curriculum now as we’ve been asked to host an ‘Industry Day’ for next year already!
Customer Satisfaction Survey - November 2011
This year we offered a mini stress reliever rugby ball to all customers returning our satisfaction survey and we're delighted to report that we had a very good response. If you’re one of our customers and you completed the survey – a big thank you for taking the time to answer the eight questions on the form and we hope you’re putting the stress reliever to good use! |
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Major investment in HEIBER & SCHRÖDER CE1000 carton erecting machine - November 2011
We’re making further investment - so you don’t have to.
November will see the arrival of our new HEIBER & SCHRÖDER CE1000 carton erecting machine. This high speed nesting/tray forming machine is another major investment for fc cartons and will significantly increase our capacity for tray forming work.
Watch out for further news on this latest state of the art acquisition......
Four New Recruits - October 2011
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Steve Hallam - Trainee Machine Operator/MinderSteve Hallam has been with us for just over a month now having worked for a print finishing company in Nottingham as a gluing machine operator. “I’ve been made to feel very welcome and I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone and learning new machines” commented Steve. Steve lives in Ilkeston, Derbyshire and enjoys watching football, playing pool and getting out walking in his spare time. |
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Steven Sills - Production AssistantSteve Sills is an old timer now having been with us for over five months. He previously worked for BMI Baby as an aircraft hanger operative at East Midlands airport. This Steve also lives quite near to fc cartons – in Long Eaton, Derbyshire and when he’s not at work, he can be found spending his time walking, gardening and enjoying his music. |
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Steve Furniss - Trainee Machine Operator/MinderSteve Furniss is one of three Steve’s in our new recruits roundup. He joined us eight months ago having latterly worked in the construction industry but had eight years experience in the packaging industry prior to that. Steve found it an easy transition and settled in very quickly as he knew a lot of the lads from his time in the industry. Steve lives locally in Carlton, Nottinghamshire with his wife Cas, son Charlie and daughter Ria.....not forgetting Milo, the dog. In his spare time he enjoys watching football and sport in general. |
BRC Global standard for Packaging & Packaging Materials - September 2011
Over the last two years we have been continually improving our systems by working very closely with customers and where necessary; adopting their methods and systems in order to provide a transparent process between their operation and ours. Whilst reviewing our systems we have always had the ultimate goal in our minds of becoming certified with the global BRC food standard and from your audits some of you have told us that we’re nearly there. Well, the proof is in the pudding as they say! Our Quality Manager has started to digest the standard and we’re on track to achieve our goal early in 2012.
Articles appeared in the Nottingham Post on Monday 15th August and the Derby Telegraph on Tuesday 16th August featuring the appointment of Mark Aubrey.
Appointment of Business Development Manager - July 2011
We’ve recently expanded our management team with the appointment of Mark Aubrey in the role of Business Development Manager. Mark joins us from a carton board company and his arrival marks a milestone in fc cartons’ history as this is the first time we have employed anyone in this role. “The company has seen year on year growth and it’s this expansion and opportunities within the industry that we have to capitalise on”, commented David Woodyatt, Managing Director. “We have been planning this for some time and we always knew the timing was critical; as was recruiting the right person to join the team. Our customer base has grown through word of mouth and well orchestrated marketing campaigns.
Having made considerable investment in new machines - increasing the range of capabilities we have on offer - we feel we are well placed to seek new business as well as increasing the volume of work we’re currently putting through our machines for our existing customers, giving us a return on our investment that will enable us to further invest in state of the art machinery”.
Mark comes with vast experience of managing key accounts and over 30 years in related industries. “I’m delighted to be joining fc cartons and I’m relishing the opportunity to work in a dynamic environment with a very dedicated workforce. Whilst I’ve been employed in the carton board industry for many years, working in the finishing side of carton production is new to me but certainly has many similarities in terms of meeting deadlines and providing very quick response times. fc cartons are a company with both growth expectancy as well as enormous potential and I am looking forward to playing a part in realising the company’s goals over the coming years.” said Mark.
Footprint Awards Ceremony at East Midlands Hilton Hotel - April 2011
The North West Leicestershire Green Footprint awards ceremony took place last week during the annual Civic Dinner hosted by Nigel Smith, Chairman of North West Leicestershire District Council with funds raised on the night going to Loros – the Chairman’s chosen charity. Sadly we didn’t win but we came runner up to a local hotel which is part of a large hotel chain.
We were truly delighted to have been a finalist and we all had a fabulous time with our evening being brightened up by Wendy and Bal from the Council who both sat at our table during dinner. We will continue with our recycling policies and strive to improve on them wherever possible. Our pledge to have trees planted in order to off-set our carbon emissions is now in its fifth year and our most recent calculations - based on one tree being planted for every tonne of waste being produced - resulted in a further 20 trees being planted last month.
We aim to reduce the environmental impact our business has on a local level as well as globally by constantly reviewing our processes and their outcome.
Recruitment of a Business Development Manager - April 2011
We are currently looking to recruit a Business Development Manager to join us here in Castle Donington. We are looking for someone with a proven track record within the print and packaging industry and with a strong work ethic. This is an exciting time for us as we enter into our ninth year of trading; having experienced strong and steady growth throughout. We’re really looking forward to welcoming the new recruit into the team and we will post details on the ‘About us’ page when we have appointed someone.
Tray Forming Machine - March 2011
Last week saw the arrival of a tray forming machine which will glue and fold ‘nested’ trays; so called because their tapered design allows them to be stacked, or nested into each other. This style of tray can vary – coated material can be used for moist or wet foods, it can be designed with an integral lid, often windowed and commonly used for food display purposes, as well as carrier trays and take away food boxes. They are also widely used in the bakery sector and they are seen as a more sustainable form of packaging because the material used is biodegradable and can be recycled.
We have already had a number of enquiries and we’re currently running trials for two major carton manufacturers.
Film crew in today - 1st March 2011
We will be having a film crew in today organised by North West Leicestershire District Council for the Green Awards detailed below. We've had an extra special tidy round and everyone's in their best corporate gear. There will be an awards ceremony on 15th April for the lucky winners in each category and we're keeping our fingers crossed.
Annual ISO audit - February 2011
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We’ve recently had the annual audit for the three ISO accreditations we hold – 9001 Quality Management, ISO 14001 Environmental management and 18001 Health & Safety management and we’re pleased to report we’re fully compliant with the standards and we passed all three with not one non-conformance. The accreditations are vitally important to our company – the commitment to work to recognised international standards was made from the time the company was established over eight years ago and there was a determination that they wouldn’t just be three files on a shelf, gathering dust; only to be taken off the shelf two weeks before an audit. These are the principles that govern our every day working activities and as well as setting us apart from our competitors they give our customers and potential customers, the reassurance that we have procedures in place that will give them a quality service and a consistently high level of customer care. |
fc short-listed for Green Footprint Awards - February 2011
North West Leicestershire District Council issued a challenge back in 2008 to individuals and businesses alike to change the ways they think and act regarding environmental issues in order to make the district a greener place to live, work and visit – both now and in the future. We signed up to the scheme to show our commitment in this area, joining local businesses such as East Midlands Airport, WM Morrison Plc, United Biscuits and Price Waterhouse Cooper. We've just heard that we have been short-listed for an award through the scheme.
Core to the challenge are five key action areas – carbon reduction, Travel, Energy, Biodiversity and waste reduction and the plan is to measure improvement performances at the end of each year and to celebrate the contributions made to improving the environment of North West Leicestershire. The scheme is supported by workshops and quarterly networking opportunities
Those of you who are familiar with our company will already be aware of the considerable efforts we have made over the last four years in attempting to reduce, where possible, the environmental impact our day to day business activities have and to off-set - where we’re able, in order to lessen our carbon footprint.
We’re delighted to have been shortlisted and we’ll let you know how we get on. .
Braille system for new Omega Allpro gluer-folder - February 2011
We’re now up and running with our servo controlled Braille system which synchronises with the Allpro gluer-folder. The unit features two discs, one male and one female; the male having dual embossing that allows two blanks to be processed with one rotation. Machine speed information from the encoder and carton position data, received from a photocell, are evaluated by a motion control unit. Information is then sent to the servo motors and drives to enable the system to apply the embossing with correct pressure and at the right speed.
Our machine operators have received comprehensive training from the manufacturers and we’ve already had a good deal of interest from our customers. For more information, please email david@fccartons.co.uk
Folding Carton article - January 2011
An article appeared in the January/February issue of Folding Carton featuring our new AllPRO Folder Gluer. Click on the link to read the article in full - Folding Carton editorial
fc cartons the subject of a Smurfit Kappa case study - January 2011
We were recently approached by Smurfit Kappa Recycling UK to be the subject of a case study for them to use for promotional purposes and we happily agreed to feature. We use our local branch in Nottingham for all our board waste as they too are an ISO 14001 accredited company. We chose Smurfit Kappa because of their commitment to sustainable forestry and their objectives for reducing their own carbon footprint.
Smurfit Kappa are part of the world’s largest fibre-based packaging group providing a full spectrum of bespoke paper and board recycling solutions for businesses and organisations of all sizes. We understand that their paper mills in Birmingham and Kent reprocess 500,000 tonnes of material per annum, providing a market for recovered paper and card, enabling them to collect and recycle as much paper based packaging as it produces.
Click on the link to read the article - Smurfit Kappa Case Study
The article has appeared on the following links;
fc-cartons-smurfit-kappa-keep-recycling-up-cms-1320
Smurfit_Kappa_help_FC_Cartons_develop_closed_loop_recycling_-8470
Assisting local Girl Guide Bethan McKnight - November 2010
We recently supported a local Girl Guide - sixteen year old Bethan Mcknight of Castle Donington in her efforts to raise funds for a trip to the World Guide centre in Pune. Bethan was selected, along with seven other Leicestershire Girl Guides to represent the County in this trip of a lifetime. To raise money for the trip Bethan organised a number of events including car washes, a curry night, contacting local businesses and she even recorded her own CD. “ I was delighted to receive £100 from fc cartons to help fund my trip. This was an experience I will never forget and I was very grateful to David and Debra for helping to make it possible” The trip took in the sites of Mumbai, Agra, Jaipur and Delhi with the opportunity to visit the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort and also a ride on an elephant! |
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A baby girl for Machine Minder Sam - October 2010
Our Machine Minder Sam Hales and his wife Ann welcomed their second child, Maisie into the world on Saturday October 2nd weighing in at 6lbs 14 oz having arrived two weeks early. Maisie is sister to the couple’s son Josh who is seven.
Photo shoot – August 2010
We recently had a photographer in to update our photo library; we regularly send off editorial to our local papers and industry publications as well as using the photographs in our quarterly newsletter and on the web site, of course, so it was decided that we were ready for some updated photos. It was also an opportunity to include the new members of staff we have. Sadly our ‘face of fc’ Dan Hawley wasn’t with us on the day, so we’re having the photographer back in September to capture his dashing good looks!.
Customer Satisfaction Survey 2010 - First Prize - adidas Jabulani World Cup 2010 Match Football - June 2010
If you are reading this as one of our existing customers you will be receiving a Customer Satisfaction Survey questionnaire in the post offering some fabulous FIFA World Cup prices for all questionnaires completed and returned to us by Friday 9th July.
We always have a reasonable response rate on returned questionnaires but this year we are attempting to increase on 2009 by offering this incentive
There are some fabulous World Cup prizes to be won, simply return your completed Satisfaction Survey by 9th July 2010 to be entered into the draw. Don’t forget to include your email address as we will notify the winners via email.
fc FC - June 2010
It’s the 7th week for FC FC. What a catchy name for a football team, I hear you say. Or maybe you thought our Marketing person had her finger stuck on the keyboard! We’re a team of mixed ages and abilities but everyone felt that the benefits of keeping fit, having a good de-stressing run about and of course, the secondary benefits of it all being good for team building; would make it all worthwhile.
We got off to an inauspicious start with a staggering result of 25 – 5. We would love to lay claim to the 25 figure...but sadly we can’t. But.... not to be deterred, the feisty FC FC re-grouped and after encouraging words from the team Captain, the team was back on the pitch the following week with just a few new rules in place; one of them being......no drinking prior to the game.
We’ve had one broken toe for one of the more senior members of the team and the obvious comments on varying levels of fitness within the team but they are all confident that things will improve and the only way is up for FC FC. We considered using the Capello Index software to chart the players efforts but we’ve come to the same decision as the FA and decided it might not be good for morale – so we’ve shelved that idea!
We’ll let you know how things progress when we join the JJB League but for now.... we won't post the scores on our web site. We have to keep morale up, you see.
The waiting is finally over - the result is announced - June 2010
After all these months of guessing, all those debates, all the weighing up of for and against options. The closed doors and heads huddled over documents, the serious faces and furrowed brows – deep in thought.
Key figures put forward an argument...from their standpoint, of course, stating their case, but which way would it go? The decision to be made? No, it wasn’t who to vote for in the general election....it was the decision to invest in yet another gluer for fc cartons. And we’re pleased to announce, the votes have been cast and there’s nothing hanging in the balance for us - we have reached a majority.
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It might not be Number 10, it’s B4 but we’ll welcome the new arrival; another great leader - the Omega ALLPRO-SM 110 Folder Gluer. We’re confident in our new incumbent’s abilities now we’ve seen them in action, the performance so far has proved worthy of our vote and none of the existing machines will be relegated to the back benches.
Our ALLPRO-SM 110 also comes equipped with a Braille system which enables us to emboss Braille, designed as a separate module; the system is able to emboss not only straight line but also crash lock bottom and 4 corner boxes.
There’s a lot to be done as the FC/ALLPRO coalition works hard to ensure a stable future for all. What a team!
Supporting an U11's football team - June 2010
We supported Castle Donington U11’s football team this year at their awards night at Derby Assembly Rooms by providing team polo shirts for all the players. The team plays in the Derby Division 2, City League and won the league with two games to spare. At the start of the league they only had 11 players in the squad which wasn’t ideal but it made it easy for the managers when it came to picking the squad and substitutions.
An addition to Liam's family - 12th June 2010
Machine Minder Liam Finch has recently added to his brood with the arrival of a daughter – Chloe Sarah, who came into the world at the Royal Derby Hospital on 8th June at 4.12 pm, weighing 8lbs 15oz. Chloe is the second daughter for Liam and his wife Gemma and is sister to Freya who is now two years old. “Freya is delighted with her baby sister,” said Liam. “She keeps asking her to play. I’m now heavily out-numbered in the household and I can’t help but wonder what life will be like when they are teenagers. ” 
Race for Life Sponsorship - 7th June 2010
We recently sponsored our machine minder, Chris Greensmith’s daughter Samantha in the Nottingham Race for Life in aid of Cancer Research. The charity event took place on the Trent Embankment on Sunday 5th June, with 16 year old Samantha raising £200 pounds for the organisation.
Samantha took part with her Grandmother who does the race every year and has had cancer herself; they were joined by her Grandmother’s friend Lynn on the 5K event, along with 3,500 other entrants.
It was a particularly proud day for Samantha’s parents Chris and Amanda as their daughter had never undertaken a walk of this distance before, having been born with Achondroplasia Dwarfism as well as related medical conditions. We were very surprised when Sammi said she wanted to take part as she just cannot walk long distances. Having witnessed how she has coped with all that she has had to deal with over the years, it was a great lift to us, as her parents, to see her do this walk and she had to do the last 1.5k without her trainers as she had a large blister on her foot. She was so tired when she’d finished; when she does something like this it makes us very proud to say she’s our daughter.”
After a well deserved holiday in Florida with her family, Samantha will be starting a childcare and development course at South Nottingham College in September. We wish her well in her studies.
Donation to Treetops Hospice - March 2010 In December we pledged to make a donation to Treetops Hospice in Risley, Derbyshire for |
every Christmas card sent to our customers. A cheque has been drawn up for £125.00 and we are just waiting for some building work to be completed at the hospice before we pay a visit with cheque in hand.Tree Planting - February 2010
Our tree planting programme continues throughout 2010 via the Tree Appeal organisation. We will continue to have broad-leafed trees, such as oak, ash and beech planted in nature reserves, dedicated woodlands and parks. As ever, we base the donation on how much waste we produce over the previous 12 months. We have now sent a cheque to pay for 22 trees to be planted for the waste produced in 2009.
How we measure up - January 2010
To ensure we are providing the same high level of service right from delivery into our premises and collection from our unit when the job is done, we have put into place a brief questionnaire for delivery drivers and logistics companies, asking them to score our services, facilities and levels of communication.
We feel very strongly that everyone’s experience of visiting our premises should be a positive one and we also feel that every visitor to fc cartons should be treated in a professional and courteous manner.
So far we’ve had some excellent feedback, with one driver commenting on his joy at being able to use our shower facilities as he’s often on an over-night trip when he leaves us. We haven’t gone as far as to supply a fluffy towelling bathrobe and slippers….but who knows.
Christmas Outing -18th December 2009
As is the tradition at the Christmas bash, there is always a competition to be entered into, of course, when it’s archery or go-karting, as in previous years, there is a straight forward competition and a clear winner. So, this year, in order to introduce a competitive element to the day, it was decided that we all had to pick a winner for each of the seven races, for the sake of the competition only (we did actually go and place our bets with the bookmakers as well) and the person who had the most wins would get their names put on the prestigious fc cartons Challenge Trophy.
We piled on to the coach for a brief sojourn to a local hostelry for the announcement of the Challenge Trophy winner which was Dave Perry. The sensible females of the group – who knew when they have had enough – went home after the presentation, the die hards in the party went on to the local curry restaurant. The pressure will be on to top that in 2010. |
In our quest to do something different each year for the Christmas bash, we spent the day at Uttoxeter Race course on 18th December. When we woke up that morning there had been a heavy frost but after a quick call to the course, we were told the racing was on, so away we went on our coach with everyone in good spirits. We arrived at the course at 11 o’clock with the sun shining and a very cheerful race crowd all looking forward to a good day’s racing and we had a fabulous hospitality box right next to the finish post.
We enjoyed a superb hot buffet served by the fabulous Jill, the wine flowed, and numerous bets were placed - some by people who studied the form of the horses and claimed to be knowledgeable and some by people who chose their winning horse; based purely on the jockey’s colours or the name of horses. Whether you knew anything about horse racing or not, it was a great day out for all and consensus was that this was the best Christmas do ever. But it wasn’t all over.....
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Major confectionary company reduces packaging by 40% - December 2009
The good old favourite – the selection box has had a major re-vamp at Nestlé this year, with the company claiming they will be the greenest on the market this Christmas.
Their web site and advertising campaign states that packaging has been reduced by 40% from 2007 levels and will be 100% recyclable as the plastic inserts have been removed from the boxes. A step in the right direction and one in which, we’re certain, others will follow.
ISO Audits - December 2009
Once again, we have come out of all three ISO audits being judged as fully compliant against the Standard, with no NCR’s whatsoever. It is testament to everyone involved, not only those responsible for quality but to everyone in the company for ensuring that we uphold our systems and procedures at all times which is evident in the results of these external audits
“An excellent external audit for ISO 9001, 18001 and 14001. Fully compliant in all areas of the Standard – well done”
Window Patcher update - October 2009
Many of you will have already received a flyer on our latest acquisition, a Heiber & Schroder WPS 1100 Window Patcher, purchased to run alongside our existing Kohmann machine.
The machine complements our plant list perfectly and has provided us with much need capacity after we very quickly outgrew the one machine. We’ve hit the ground running since installation in July and have kept the machine busy. If you would like to discuss any window patching requirements you may have, now or in the near future, please call
David Woodyatt on 01332 850648
Press release....10th August 2009 - Nottingham Evening Post
The team
A packaging specialist has bounced back into rapid growth only three years after a major fire destroyed its premises.
FC Cartons at Castle Donington was set up in 2003, specialising in making cartons with plastic windows for the confectionery and medicines industry. It was aimed particularly at supplying companies along the M1 corridor. FC Cartons, set up by David and Debra Woodyatt, has now invested in a high-tech £70,000 Heiber and Schroder window-patching machine which will enable the company to undertake a greater volume of gluing and folding work for the carton packaging industry.
The machine will sit alongside the existing window-patcher bought two years ago. Window patching is the clear film glued on to a box or carton in order to view and protect the contents.
The Woodyatts set up the company when they realised there was a gap in the market for an ISO accredited finishing company giving a high quality service to major players. A huge fire in neighbouring premises saw their newly built factory destroyed three years ago. The company made a temporary move into an empty unit opposite, switching back into rebuilt premises a year later. It not only recovered from the set-back and reached its sales goals, but surpassed them by at least 25 per cent. Last year it had sales of £700,000 and it hopes to break the £1m barrier this year.
Mr Woodyatt said: “The future is looking bright for us but we’re never complacent. We have yet to promote our additional capabilities to the people in the packaging industry, but just through word of mouth the new machine has been working at full capacity in the month it has been installed. We were confident that there was a need out there, but the timing had to be right for the company, because any major investment in the current climate is not undertaken lightly”.
Debra Woodyatt said that when the company sought to secure funds for the investment, the first telephone call to the bank was a disappointment. "They just weren’t interested; no careful consideration, no looking at our history. Ours has always been a well-run, profit making company, showing steady year-on-year growth, with a significant increase in turnover throughout the last year. They didn’t even want to come in to see us to discuss things.
At a time when the Government is still talking about being keen to ensure that banks support small businesses, I was astounded to hear the bank’s response. But the second call I made was to a broker and within two weeks a finance package was in place. As we enter into our seventh year of trading, we’re looking forward to continued growth.”
Last year FC Cartons employed 13 staff and that figure has risen to 18 this year.
By Richard Tressider – Business Editor, Nottingham Post
Training update - September 2009
Dan Hawley has recently undertaken First Aid Training and becomes our third First Aider and as well as acquiring the knowledge and skills to deal with all eventualities on that front, he also volunteered to take on the role of Fire Marshall. Let’s hope he’s not kept too busy in his extra roles!
Press release.....4th August 2009
It’s not all doom and gloom in the manufacturing sector in the region as the Directors of Castle Donington based fc cartons will testify. A recent investment of £70,000 has enabled the company to purchase a hi-tech Heiber & Schröder window patching machine, the machine will sit along side the existing window patcher purchased just two years ago and will enable the company to undertake a greater volume of gluing and folding work for the packaging industry – primarily for confectionary and pharmaceutical companies. Window patching is the clear film glued onto a box or carton in order to view and protect the content.
David and Debra Woodyatt established the company in 2003 in premises off Trent Lane after realising there was a gap in the market for an ISO accredited finishing company proving a high quality service to the major players throughout the UK. After a huge fire in neighbouring premises saw their newly built factory destroyed three years ago, the company made a temporary move into an empty unit opposite and bounced back to move back into the newly built premises a year later, getting right back on track and have not only managed to reach the goals they had set out in their business plan but have now surpassed them by 26%.
“The future is looking bright for us but we’re never complacent, we have yet to promote our additional capabilities to the people in the packaging industry but just through word of mouth the new machine has been working at full capacity in the month it has been installed,” commented David Woodatt, managing director. “We were confident that there was a need out there but the timing had to be right for the company as any major investment in the current climate is not to be undertaken lightly”.
When looking to secure funding for the investment, the first telephone call was made to their bank, “Rather disappointingly, there response was immediate,” said Debra Woodyatt, finance director. “They just weren’t interested, no careful consideration, no looking at our history. Ours has always been a well run, profit making company, showing steady year on year growth, with a significant increase in turnover throughout the last year. They didn’t even want to come in to see us to discuss things and the reason given was that they are just not interested in financing an investment under £100,000. At a time when the Government is still talking about being keen to ensure that banks support small business, companies, incidentally, who make up the SMEs who employ over 58% of the working population, I was astounded to hear the bank’s response. The second call I made was to a broker and within two weeks a finance package was in place. As we enter into our seventh year of trading, we’re looking forward to continued growth by meeting the needs of our customers and reacting to the changes within the industry. Despite the current economic downturn we are pleased to report a really positive first quarter.”
Last year the company employed 13 staff and that figure has risen to 18 this year, with a view to continuing to recruit as productivity demands, employing experienced personnel from within the industry as well as taking on new recruits from the local area.
By Robin Johnson - Business Editor, Derby Telegraph
Press release.....31st July 2009 - Leicester Mercury
A packaging firm is looking forward to growth after investing £70,000 in new equipment. FC Cartons in Castle Donington, has bought machines to help it carry out more gluing and folding work in packaging for confectionery and pharmaceutical companies. David and Debra Woodyatt, who started the business in 2003, said the company had literally risen from the ashes.
Fire destroyed their original premises in Trent Lane three years ago. Mrs Woodyatt said the business had secured a loan for the new equipment through a broker after their bank refused to help. She said: “They just weren’t interested, no careful consideration, no looking at our history. Ours has always been a well run, profit-making company, showing steady year on year growth, with a significant increase in turnover throughout the last year. At a time when the Government is still talking about being keen to ensure that banks support small businesses, I was astounded to hear the bank’s response.
“Despite the current economic downturn, we are pleased to report a really positive first quarter”. The business employs 18 staff after taking on five workers this year.
fc cartons welcomes a visit from Castle Donington Community College students - June 2009
“It was clear that you put in an enormous amount of time and effort into the two sessions and made them fun and informative whilst also ensuring their safety at fc cartons.”
Year eight students from the Art, Design and Technology department of Castle Donington Community College came in to our company in the Summer to learn more about production as part of their graphics project entitled ‘ Easter Egg Boxes’.
Over two days around 40 students watched a production line in process so they could see for themselves, the processes involved from the carton’s arrival into the company through to despatch.
After having a Health & Safety induction they were split into two groups, with half the group going to learn about the make-ready and production processes and the remaining students being shown how the work is quoted for from pdf drawings and the many variations of carton types. We gave them some statistics on the quantity of Easter eggs consumed each year and the percentage of those that we glue here at fc cartons.
The final part of their visit centred on environmental issues surrounding the industry and the policies fc cartons, in particular, has in place for compliance with ISO 14001. They were told about our pledge to pay for a tree to be planted for every 10 tonnes of waste produced in order to off-set our carbon emissions.
We had very positive feedback from the teachers and they have expressed an interest in continuing the relationship we have with the college.
“It is rare that students get to see the inner workings of industry and all the processes involved so we always welcome these trips to complement and enhance their classroom learning.”
Tree Planting
Our pledge to plant more trees continues and we know of a company in Nottingham who saw one of our newsletters and was prompted to become involved in the Tree Appeal via the web site www.treeappeal.com ...and that's just one that we know of, we may have influenced others.
We continue to measure our waste tonnage and off-set the tree planting against this measurement as we reported in our last newsletter.
Water flasks
Just after our last newsletter in April we purchased insulated drinking flasks for all our staff.
We provide chilled mains drinking water with the usual plastic cups but if everyone in the
company used just one cup a day, the amount of waste produced in a month would be
staggering - even without any decent summer weather to talk of! They now all have their own flasks.
Travel to and from work
Currently 20% of our staff cycle to work and make use of secure undercover cycle storage as well as changing rooms and showers provided by the company. Reduced carbon footprints as well as fit healthy souls!
Staff have also set up a car sharing rota between themselves - helps keep the travel costs down but, once again - good for the environment.
Website Launch -
We aim to keep all our customers informed and up to date with our website. We will be adding news items on a regular basis, as well as details on new plant and capabilities
