Latest News
Meet the Team – Warren Powers
Warren Powers has been Storeman of the maintenance department at our Coalville site for over five years. No day is ever the same for Warren and is packed with a variety of daily challenges. From taking deliveries at goods inwards, organising the stores so that the maintenance team can quickly find the items that they need, liaising with the maintenance team to get items ready for future projects and arranging for broken machinery to be sent for repairs, Warren plays an important role in keeping the Board24 site at Coalville running smoothly. He previously worked for Interserve water services which involved advising companies how to prevent bacteria growth in their water systems. Before that he worked for Technigraphic, which involved processing orders and despatching printed transfer papers for garments. Warren said, “I enjoy learning about all about the engineering and electrical parts we keep in stock and where and how they are used on each of the machines. I like how maintenance, purchasing and myself work as a great team together and try to have a laugh along the way! “I also enjoy helping anyone on site whether it’s something small from them needing new workwear to retrieving a machine part from the stores urgently so maintenance can install it and get the factory running again.” When he’s not at work, Warren enjoys spending time with his lovely wife Abbie, family and friends. He has many, many hobbies outside work which include paddle-boarding, being on a pool team (just excuse to have a beer really) and kiteboarding just to name just a few.
Recycle Week and corrugated
2024 is the 21st anniversary of Recycle Week and the annual celebration of recycling within the UK and how we can be even better at it! It is estimated that 18m tonnes of CO2 is saved by recycling in the UK each year. This year’s theme is ‘Rescue Me’ which is all about rescuing things from waste that could be recycled. Corrugated board is just one of several materials that can be successfully recycled. Not only is corrugated an easy material to recycle; it is also made from at least 70% recycled material, depending upon the board grade and type being manufactured. This makes it one of the most sustainable packaging materials around and is the most popular reason more and more businesses are switching to corrugated as their preferred packaging material. Additionally, the sheet plants we supply are industry professionals in creating amazing packaging solutions which often feature high quality print which only adds to its appeal. So how can consumers and business best recycle their corrugated board and packaging. Top tips for recycling corrugated *Ensure all non-recyclable tape, labels, shrink wrap and strapping is removed before popping the appropriate corporate or kerbside recycling facility *If having direct contact with food, all food waste should be scraped away and disposed of in normal waste. The corrugated box, board or packaging can then be successfully recycled *Try to keep it dry. Wet corrugated is much harder to recycle than dry corrugated *Flatten them or break them down into smaller pieces to aid the recycling process *Reuse wherever possible *An amazing fact is that corrugated boxes can be recycled up to 25 times. Producing corrugated board and packaging During our production processes we recycle all our wastepaper and board, and we know our sheet plants also have sophisticated systems to collect waste and off cuts during the production process. Typically, this is baled on site and then sent for onward recycling. This ensures that production and recycling processes within the corrugated industry are well managed, facilitating recycling channels and optimising the potential of waste board and off cuts, an inevitable by-product in the corrugated industry. Frank Hay, Group Managing Director, Board24 and Cases24 commented; “Recycling corrugated board in all its forms is very important for the industry; indeed, recycled material can be produced into new sheet board in as little as two weeks! “Recycle Week is about reinforcing the awareness and providing the encouragement for consumers primarily, but also businesses to ensure they are doing all they can to recycle all materials successfully.” To find out more about Recycle Week and its campaign and information visit https://www.recyclenow.com/news-and-campaigns/recycle-week
Eurocentral wins Investment Project of the Year at UK Packaging Awards
Thursday 10th October was a night to remember for the Board24 team as the new Greenfield site at Eurocentral won the Investment Project of the Year category at the prestigious UK Packaging Awards. Held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, our team were shortlisted amongst other industry peers however we were delighted to have our project recognised and be crowned as winners. “We are delighted to accept this award on behalf of the entire Board24 team as well as our partners who helped us through the delivery of this project” said Frank Hay, Group Managing Director, Board24. “This ambitious project represents our ongoing commitment to the UK packaging industry, our customers and the excellent Board24 team. I am proud to have been part of the fabulous team who delivered this project and am therefore delighted to have the project recognised across the UK Packaging industry.” Eurocentral is a huge milestone in the history of Board24 and corrugated board production in the UK. It is home to the most advanced corrugator in the country with the latest technologies making it extremely efficient, having enhanced production capabilities, and can manufacture superior quality materials more sustainably particularly important in the ongoing demand for high quality printed packaging. Capable of producing more than 100 million metres squared per annum, it can manufacture a wide range of flute types including F, B, C, M, E, BC, MB, and EB. The site is equipped with the latest state of the art corrugating and materials handling equipment to enable consistency, sustainability, and efficiency through advanced process control systems. Furthermore, the new site will deliver greater energy efficiencies and will generate over 50% less carbon emissions which is delivered through superior energy efficiency of the new equipment, on site solar PV and significantly less emissions from distribution. Frank added; “Setting up an entire new business operation of this size and complexity is a huge undertaking but the outcome was worth overcoming the challenges. “It shows how a hardworking and knowledgeable team can achieve great success, and my thanks and congratulations go the entire Board24 team for their commitment and determination. This award is for us all.” To view all the winners from the awards visit https://ukpackagingawards.co.uk/ukpackagingawards2024/en/page/2024-winners
Long Service awards 2024
We are delighted that more of our colleagues have been presented with their long service awards recognising 25 years’ service with the business. Frank Hay, Group Managing Director, personally presented the certificates to colleagues at Preston thanking them for the commitment and hard work at Board24. These were Production Team Leaders Lee Twyman and Ian Gibney and Production Operatives Roger Lucas, Anthony Burke and David Downes. Alex Morris, Managing Director at our Coalville site awarded Matthew Callaghan, Lead Operative with his certificate and thanks. Frank Hay commented; “25 years’ service and commitment to one business is a great achievement and we are very proud to have a number of colleagues reach this career milestone each year. “My sincere thanks to those who have received their awards this year and I hope we have many more years working together.”
Meet the team – Reggie Willars
Reggie Willers is our Health and Safety Administrator apprentice and joined the business in summer 2023. He is primarily responsible for the administration of Health and Safety (H&S) protocols within the organisation. This involves maintaining records, assisting in compliance checks, and ensuring that all safety procedures are documented and followed. He also supports the team in implementing safety training programs and contributing to risk assessments and safe systems of work to foster a safe working environment. Reggie has been undertaking the level four Quality Practitioner Course and this should be completed by the end of November enhancing his skills and knowledge in quality management practices relevant to health and safety. Speaking of his role Reggie said; “One of the aspects I enjoy most about my job is the people I work with. “The collaborative environment fosters teamwork and support among colleagues. Additionally, each day presents different challenges and tasks, which keeps my work engaging and allows me to learn continuously.” In addition to his apprenticeship Reggie is a keen learner and has completed many other additional courses to extend his knowledge and skill set. When he’s not at work Reggie is a keen pianist, having taken up the hobby three years ago.
Meet the Team – Ross Yuill
Ross Yuill is our Engineering Manager at Eurocentral, home of our newest corrugator. He joined out team in February this year, just a few weeks after Eurocentral opened. Having worked at packaging integrated plants for over 30 years, Ross is no stranger to the industry. For the past year, he had been working at DS Smith as an engineer, but he has held various roles throughout his career including Corrugator Team Leader, Corrugator Manager, Engineering Manager and Business Improvement Manager giving him a wide range of industry related skills that suit the requirements of Eurocentral perfectly. Ross is now part of a small engineering team who will look after the new site at Eurocentral. The team are currently in the process of setting up a planned maintenance system to ensure reliable capacity for the group. Ross said, “It’s refreshing to work at a brand new site, and it’s great to have the challenges of learning about new plant and machinery and how we can optimise it’s performance.” Outside of work, Ross is an avid road racing fan. He has had motorbikes for 48 years and currently rides a Triumph Speed Triple 1200RS. Every year, he visits the Isle of Man for the Southern 100 and Manx Grand Prix. In the late 80’s, he raced a Yamaha TZ250. Ross is also a big fan of fitness – he has competed in Greco Roman wrestling and was Scottish champion at Cumberland Wrestling in the mid 90’s. Ross also won the British championship in arm wrestling at 90kg in 2008.
How we work with customers to optimise packaging efficiencies
Our teams at Coalville, Preston and Eurocentral manufacture 500 msms of corrugated board each year. With five corrugators, including the newest one in the UK currently at our Eurocentral site, our production capability is incredibly varied. We manufacture a range of corrugated board types utilising a range of paper types to create outer walls, liners and fluting. The combination of each of these is which makes up each specific board grade. With so much choice though, how do our sheet plant customers know what the best board for each individual job is, particularly when paper grades change from time to time. Manufacturing with purpose The key to success is that we manufacture with a purpose; to give our customers the right boards grades, in the right quantities to allow our onward sheet plant customers to fulfil the requirements of the packaging they manufacture. This can range from the full spectrum of FEFCO code boxes, to complex point of sale, luxury gift packaging and large-scale transit packaging. Many of these sheet plant customers have the capabilities to manufacture the full range of packaging solutions due to a range of technologies which includes printers, die cutters and finishing end machines. By supplying the most appropriate board grade and finish, production efficiencies can be maximised. But how do we determine what those board grades are? Testing facilities Much of it is from the knowledge and experience of our team. Many have years of experience in the industry and understand the facets and anomalies of corrugated board. They understand paper, they understand the production process, they understand what makes good board. But when our customers require something a little different, we can help them find the perfect board to support their design and project. One way we do this is through our lab testing facilities. This is a range of options that our customers can tap into ensuring the right board grade is specified and that it will perform as required. Supply Chain Considerations To help establish the required Box Compression Strength of a case, there are several questions which can assist with calculating an appropriate board grade, for instance the case size, number of cases per pallet, transportation conditions, how long the cases are stored and what the ambient conditions are. Different board grades offer two types of benefits: performance and logistics. Performance benefits can be improved print finish, perforation tear or board strength whilst logistics benefits can offer improved load fill, reduced warehouse space, reduced number of forklift truck movements, lower storage costs and lower delivery costs. To determine the correct board is specified, board analysis processes can be used to determine the weight of the board, the thickness of the board and the weight of the component papers of corrugated board after separation. This test method provides the weights of the constituent papers. The weights given should be considered alongside other performance related test methods. This is due to papers of the same type and weight from different sources typically have differing performance values, causing board grades of the same weight to differ dependent on the paper origin. Understanding paper and how it performs Our expert team understand paper and the impact it has on corrugated board and packaging. Paper properties are broken into three elements, optical, surface and physical properties. Optical properties are primarily related to the visual element of paper. Surface properties are important for corrugated board manufacturers, specifically the bonding process. Physical properties are of most interest to board performance. As paper performance contributes to box performance there are several tests that are key in determining the required structural specifications. These include SCT (compression strength of paper), ECT (compression strength of board) and BCT (compression strength of box). The latter determines the maximum load a box can withstand when palletised and also considers the length/width/depth ratios, palletisation, logistics and environment. Re-assessing Board Grades Corrugated board serves a lot of purposes, making it the ideal packaging material. Once a board grade is assigned to a specific job it is rarely reassessed unless it is not performing sufficiently. However reassessing board grades and understanding the variable elements of packaging can influence its strength, performance and cost. Therefore, considering board grade is not just for new specifications it can provide valuable information on existing specifications. Exploring the purpose of the box can help identify scope to trial an alternative board grade which could provide beneficial outcomes. Frank Hay, Group Managing Director, Board24 commented; “There is not always a straightforward prescription for corrugated board, and it is important that we work with our customers to ensure the correct board is ordered and utilised. “We urge all our customers to communicate with us on new and unusual board requests, or simply when a review of board grades needs to take place. Together, we can ensure performance is maximised and customer expectations are met.”
Eurocentral shortlisted at UK Packaging Awards
We are so pleased to announce that our Eurocentral project has been shortlisted for Investment Project of the Year at the 2024 UK Packaging Awards. The project, which opened in February of this year, saw a £25m investment come to fruition, replacing the aged Larkhall site and installing the newest corrugator in the UK. Frank Hay, Group Managing Director, Board24 commented; “Eurocentral was a huge project and one that has changed the production landscape of Board24. “It was a hugely complex project, but one made possible by a great team who gave it their all to ensure it was a success.” Additionally, other Logson companies were also shortlisted in this year’s awards. Boxes and Packaging, Doncaster and Manchester, Jardin Corrugated and Challenge Packaging are shortlisted in the Supply Chain solution of the year category. B&P (Doncaster) also made the shortlist for Best International Pack, whilst Boxes and Packaging (Swindon) was shortlisted for Corrugated: Online Retail and Consumer Goods. Winners will be announced at the glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 10th October 2024 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London. To view all those shortlisted visit https://ukpackagingawards.co.uk/ukpackagingawards2024/en/page/home-page
Meet the Team – Ollie Barson
Ollie Barson is our business analyst at our Coalville site. He joined our team around 18 months ago. As a business analyst, Ollie works with data and uses business systems to create and maintain reports to help the business make decisions about our future. Before joining Board24, Ollie was temping as a payroll administrator at Everyone Active. “I had just finished my degree and was sure I wanted to be a business analyst but couldn’t find anywhere that offered the support and training I wanted,” said Ollie. “It was great to join Board24 and I enjoy my role as I get to learn about all aspects of running the company and also learn more about this fascinating industry.” Recently, Ollie achieved his Anaplan level 2 model builder qualification, started the long journey of studying for his CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) accreditation whilst (nearly) finishing his LEAN project management qualification. Adam Rennocks, Ollie’s manager and Commercial Manager for Board24 said, “Ollie has come a long way in his short tenure, being thrust into an important and expansive role right from the off. He’s taken on all challenges presented to him and impressed at every opportunity. There’s an incredibly bright future ahead for him as he continues to seek growth both personally and professionally.” In his free time, you might find Ollie playing or watching rugby. Ollie’s a big Rugby Union fan – he supports Leicester Tigers and currently plays 2nd row or backrow for a local team in Market Bosworth. It’s not just the sport that Ollie enjoys, socialising with teammates brings a welcome escape from the pressure of the pitch. When the rugby’s season is over, Ollie keeps match fit by attending the gym.
Preston customer services team smash fundraising target
Nicky Bulmer and Gemma Parr from our customer services team at Preston have smashed a fundraising target they set recently. The pair took part in the annual 11 mile Walk in the Dark from Chorley Hospital to Royal Preston Hospital to raise money for charity that is dear to them; Rosemere Cancer Foundation. Originally, they set a target of £500. To date they have raised an amazing £2582! Nicky commented; “We both really enjoyed taking part in the walk and doing something for a charity that is in our local community. “We would have been delighted to reach our £500 target, however, thanks to the generosity and kind support of colleagues, friends, family and customers we raised over five times that amount. Thank you to everyone who supported us, it meant the world.”
