The commissioning of an £8 million “leap into the future” machine impacted on a Dundee company’s financial performance last year
Rockwell Solutions turnover rose by less than 0.3% to £10.27 million and pre-tax profit crept up by 5.4% to £325,000 in the 12 months to August 2015.
The Wester Gourdie Industrial Estate firm believes its Rockstar polymer extrusion process will revolutionise the food packaging market by allowing solvent-free lidding to deliver massive cost and environmental savings.
Managing director Zain Okhai said that having completed the major investment programme in the Rockstar equipment, 2015 has seen the business progressing to the project stage of machine testing and commissioning of new products.
The potential opportunities offered by new markets and products provided the impetus to drive the business forward.
He continued: “We are continuing to invest in and develop the organisation both operationally and administratively to ensure that the company is aligned to take full advantage of the additional productive capacity created.
“The impact of this is reflected in the results for 2015, a year that has seen the transitional phase extended.
“However, we are confident that the projected growth in turnover made possible by the company’s key investment in technology and our vision for the future will deliver an enhanced financial performance in 2016 and beyond.”
Rockstar is destined to deliver savings for the firm of more than £3m a year – massively boosting Rockwell’s fortunes and environmental credentials.
By producing sealable lids without using solvent in the coating chemistry, the company can expect raw material and energy savings of around £300,000 per month.
Another benefit is the machine’s production efficiency and capacity which will double the output.
The 70-metre-long machine also allows the company to substantially reduce its carbon emissions and expand into the recyclable flexible packaging market.
Rockwell is already one of the largest manufacturers of flexible, heat-sealed packaging for the food industry in Europe and one of the biggest in the world.
The in-house research and development team led by chairman Dr Aziz Okhai invented the process that The Courier Business Award winners believe will propel the firm to the forefront of global food packaging technology.
The workforce has grown by a third over the last 12 months to 80.
