Royal Warrant award helps Apex Packaging to grow

Apex Packaging received confirmation of the warrant of appointment from the Prince Of Wales at the end of last year.

Managing director Trevor Jones said it had come as a real boost to the expanding Black Country business.

"It is surprising what doors it has opened for us," he said.

The growing family business has already taken on two extra staff this year and now employs 20 and Mr Jones, who started Apex in 1992, said they planned to carry on recruiting as they continued to grow.

"The warrant shows that we have sent significant supplies for the last five years to the Prince at Clarence House," said Mr Jones.

The company has also supplied the Prince's Highgrove Estate with presentation boxes.

Apex was originally started from a small unit at the Pensnett Trading Estate in Kingswinford and four years ago made the move to its present 7,000 sq ft unit at Two Locks, off Narrowboat Way.

It makes made-to-order boxes and cartons for the gift trade and promotional industry.

"We do all the main manufacturing on site. We have invested in all the varied machines needed including cornering, mitreing and glueing machinery and we are looking to invest further as we grow," said Mr Jones, who has worked in the box trade for 30 years. He had a decade's experience ias a designer and sample maker before deciding to go it alone.

The company offers a bespoke made to order service to its customers who come from all over the UK and range from private individuals to big busineses.

"Once we get the initial brief from the customer we design the box and linings and fitments.

"There is no minimum order and we frequently make one-off boxes for special awards.

"We also offer a fulfilment service where the customer sends the goods to us and we do all the packaging and delivery in our own vehicles," added Mr Jones.

It can produce gift boxes with lift off lids or with hinged lid's andcartons with tuck-in ends and stock a huge range of paper coverings for customers to choose from.

Apex is able to litho, screen, foil block or dgitally print anything y they want on any box and to any quantity.

The interior of the boxes can also be enhanced with a lining, either in paper, satin or velvet and it can have die-cut fitments to secure and present products and gifts

The company is mainly concentrated on the home market but does export some presentation boxes on a small scale.

"We are looking to increase our share of the UK market.

"We think there is scope for more growth," said Mr Jones, aged 47, whose two grown-up sons both work in the business.

Apex started off as a merchant, buying and selling packaging,before Mr Jones realised there was a gapm in the market for a manufacturer willing to make quality boxes and not just offer massive quantities

More information about Apex Packaging is available from its website at www.apexpackaging.co.uk