The Wilkins Group, a family owned business which employs 500 people across five countries (including in Sri Lanka, China, India and Bangladesh), has made an investment of €350,000 in a new gluer for its Romania factory. With headquarters based in Nottingham, England, the Wilkins Group has purchased an Omega Allpro 110 Folder Gluer from Duran Machinery. It is expected to speed up production and handle the workload that was previously being done by two machines.
Justin Wilkins, Sales Director, said, “This is an interesting investment for us, because it is the first deal we have done with Duran Machinery. The new machine does all types of gluing styles that we need. The reason we invested in this machine is to increase our output in the finishing side of our Romanian facility. This machine is a real uplift to what we’ve already got there in terms of speed and set up times, so it will really enhance that end of the business.”
He continues, “We already have high speed die-cutting and printing machines in the Romanian factory, but the gluers were slowing us down. We needed to invest in the gluing department to bring it in line with the rest of the factory. It will make a big difference.”
The Omega Allpro 110 is replacing two older machines, which needed two operators and six assistants per shift. The new machine will need just three people in total per shift. The remaining people will be given jobs in other parts of the factory. The machine will be in place by the end of the year, with the potential of the group utilising the technology in its other worldwide hubs. The company has recently taken on more people in its Romania factory – there are now more than 60 people working at the plant.
