In a move to complement its existing UK based business, UNI UK, the UNI Packaging Group has recently announced the acquisition of flexible packaging specialists, Arteb Printing Ltd. Based in St Helens, Merseyside, Arteb has over 30 years experience in the flexible packaging sector.

Operating from six production sites across France, UNI Packaging provide a full range of flexible packaging solutions including: Gravure, flexographic and digital printing, vacuum pouch and standup pouch manufacture, lamination, laser scoring, co-extrusion and logistics. With a turnover in excess of €104m, the UNI Packaging Group employs over 300 people in sites and offices across 15 countries.

The acquisition of Arteb provides a strong fit with UNI Packaging’s expansion plans, as well as a manufacturing capability to the UK market. Occupying a 10,000 sq ft site, Arteb’s range of services include: gearless flexographic print in up to 8 colours, lamination, patterned cold seal, perforation and slitting operations. In addition to the existing processes, UNI Packaging will also install a new pouch manufacturing facility at St. Helens, to further enhance the UK product offering.

For UNI UK the move has strategic importance. “We have a growing market share in this country and with the resources we have across the group, we can operate on a different level to other flexible packaging companies, allowing us to give our customers a consistently high level of service at every stage,” said UNI UK’s Rod Entwistle.

“The acquisition of Arteb represents a step-change for our customers, allowing them to benefit from the assurance of a UK manufacturing capability and the advantages that brings, such as faster lead times. The move will also provide the group with additional capacity at a time of ongoing expansion,” he added.