Bakers is expanding production capacity at its BakPac division with the installation of two new Galaxy Packtech pouchmaking machines. The new equipment increases the company’s total number of pouch conversion lines to five and follows the recent completion of a factory extension in early 2024.
The move is part of a wider £5 million, two-year investment aimed at supporting growing demand for digitally printed, sustainable flexible packaging. Bakers says the expansion is focused on maintaining short lead times and high-quality output, particularly as more brands seek recyclable mono-material solutions.
“Going from three to five pouchmakers allows us to stay ahead of demand and continue delivering the service our customers rely on,” said Phil Smith, operations manager at Bakers.
The newly installed pouchmakers include features such as enhanced sealing technology designed to improve compatibility with recyclable materials. They also support continuous production and faster changeovers, which the company says will improve consistency across both small and large production runs.
These upgrades complement BakPac’s existing digital print capabilities, including two HP Indigo 200K digital presses — a configuration unique within the UK, according to the company.
The investment comes at a time when brands are seeking faster turnaround times, lower minimum order quantities, and greater flexibility. Bakers says this infrastructure expansion helps it better meet those market needs.
The Galaxy Packtech machines are currently being installed at BakPac’s expanded facility in Brentwood and are expected to be fully operational by early June.
Steve Baker, managing director at Bakers, reflected on the division’s development: “Flexible packaging is a fast-moving market. We realised early on that to be competitive, we needed to scale quickly and match our customers’ pace. Our team has adapted impressively, and we’re optimistic about what’s ahead.”
