Quality And Standards
The best relationships are forged through trust. And trust is earned by keeping promises.
Whether it’s the safety of our employees or having the right controls in place so that we keep our promises to our customers, we work hard to ensure we have quality systems of the highest standard. That’s why almost two-thirds of our customer base continues to work with us well in excess of six years each.
Quality and Standards
Health and Safety
We ensure the highest levels of health, safety and hygiene for our employees and customers.
Because of our stringent ‘near misses’ reporting, all of our sites are high achievers on the Novolex Total Recordable Incidents (TIR) medallion scheme, which awards sites for number of years without TIR’s.
We hold monthly employee risk assessment, safety and quality sessions to ensure safety is always held in upmost regard.
Accreditations
All of our three manufacturing sites in the UK and Ireland are accredited to BRCGS Packaging Materials Issue 6 Standard. Additionally, our UK sites are ISO accredited as follows:
- Milton Keynes and Bridgwater UK – ISO9001:2015
- Bridgwater, UK – 14001:2015
Best Practice
A sustainable manufacturing and value chain is key to making sure we exceed customer expectations at every opportunity, and our production sites are designed to mirror and indeed exceed, the standards and best practices of our food-manufacturing customers. We also operate a strict supplier code of conduct and carry out regular supplier audits.
We employ a local disaster recovery plan at each site, with the majority of our tools being used across all our sites, allowing us to deliver our customer orders on time and in full in any eventuality.
We are continually investing in more efficient equipment and processes. For example, in 2021 we have already implemented a new state of the art CMS system for advanced order processing and invoicing, as well as a brand new extruder at our Bridgwater site.
It is also important to us that we work as efficiently as possible, in order to reduce our impact on the environment. We keep our controls well inside our customer standards, but we also go over and above to ensure we operate in an environmentally sustainable way which includes our commitment to reducing waste at all times.
Quality and Consistency:
How We Ensure the Quality and Consistency of Thermoformed Packaging
Thermoformed packaging is a versatile and cost-effective solution for many industries, such as food, medical, and cosmetics. However, to ensure the safety and satisfaction of our customers, we need to maintain the highest standards of quality and consistency in our products. Below we explain how we achieve this goal through our rigorous policies, procedures, and practices.
From Raw Materials to Despatch
The quality and consistency of our products start from the very beginning of the production process when we receive the raw materials from our approved suppliers. We check the quality and specifications of the materials before we store them in our designated areas. We also monitor the temperature and humidity of the storage environment to prevent any deterioration or contamination.
The quality of our raw materials is also continuously evaluated to ensure our extruded material meets the required specifications for clarity, colour and finish. Quality control checks are carried out by our highly skilled extrusion operators to confirm that all parameters are within tolerance before releasing the material for thermoforming.
Next, we use our state-of-the-art thermoforming machines to shape the materials into the desired forms and sizes. Our skilled and trained staff operate the machines according to the predefined parameters and instructions. They also perform regular maintenance and calibration of the machines to ensure their optimal performance and accuracy.
Visual product inspection at Bridgwater
After the thermoforming process, we inspect the products for any defects or deviations from the customer's requirements. We use various methods and tools to conduct the inspection, such as metal detection, visual inspection, customer-specific tests, and first-off samples. We also document the results of the inspection and keep records for traceability and accountability.
Finally, we pack the products in suitable packaging materials and label them with the necessary information. We then despatch the products to our customers in a timely and efficient manner. We also follow the relevant regulations and standards for the transportation and handling of the products.
HARA Evaluation and Pre-requisite Programmes
In addition to the above steps, we also have a robust HARA Evaluation in place to identify and assess the potential hazards and risks associated with making our products and processes. We have a trained team of experts who conduct the HARA Evaluation on a regular basis and update it as needed. They also implement the appropriate control measures and corrective actions to prevent or minimise the hazards and risks.
Furthermore, we have a comprehensive set of pre-requisite programmes in place to control the quality of our products throughout the production process. These programmes include supplier approval, pest management, housekeeping, cleaning schedules, threat assessments, vulnerability assessments, and more. These programmes help us to ensure the hygiene, safety, and integrity of our products and premises.
Checking the bond strength on our laminated film at Arklow
Top Load testing at Milton Keynes
Conclusion
At our company, we take quality and consistency seriously. We have a systematic and proactive approach to ensure our thermoformed packaging products meet and exceed the expectations of our customers and the relevant authorities. We are committed to continuous improvement and innovation in our products and processes. We are proud to be a trusted and reliable partner for our customers.
