MP opens milestone factory for Mercian

The 45-year-old label manufacturing business recently purchased the site on the Plant Lane Business Park to continue its expansion as a result of demand for its digital and security labelling products.

The new 24,000sq ft factory represents a significant increase in capacity for the business that was previously based in a 6,000 sq ft site in Cannock.

Mercian Labels will be recruiting another 25 full time workers across its new Burntwood and existing Derby factories in the next three years to expand its team in a variety of roles including skilled production roles, apprenticeships, finance, marketing, sales, quality and management.

"After seven consecutive years of growth we were experiencing significant overcrowding challenges," explained managing director Dr Adrian Steele.

"We identified this vacant former speedboat manufacturing facility earlier this summer as being ideal for our future needs and with support from our professional advisers we secured a quick transaction in early August. This allowed us to refit the site to our specification before moving the factory in October.

"The project has taken a lot of effort from everyone involved. Our staff have been amazing – everyone moved with us and the relocation itself went well ahead of schedule. The new factory will allow us to expand production to meet both domestic and export demand for our tamper evident and digital label & carton products for the next 10 years.

"With a fantastic facility like this we can now grow to meet pent up customer demand for our products. We have already committed to significant new machinery investment for 2015 that we just couldn't fit into our previous site, enabling us to increase production capacity.

Dr Steele added: "'Poised for further growth' is on overused term, but now that our capacity constraints have been lifted we expect further significant growth in the next three years. It's like taking the handcuffs off our team to get on and do what they do best."

The site was formally opened on November 7 in the presence of 70 customers, suppliers, staff, local councillors and professional advisers.

Unveiling a commemorative plaque at the factory Mr Fabricant said: "I used to be a customer of Mercian Labels before I ever became an MP, so it was a genuine pleasure and a privilege to open their new facility in Burntwood.

"Mercian Labels are just one of four specialised security label printers in the world so it is great to see more high technology moving into Lichfield District. I hope to visit them again when their new production line is installed."

Attending the opening and factory tour were representatives from key suppliers from the labelling industry including Neil Lilly from Rotometrics, Phill Attwood from Avery Dennison, Nick Boyle from Manter and Paul Briggs from Xeikon.

Mercian Labels again turned to its trusted legal advisers at Pickerings in Tamworth to complete the property transaction quickly to allow occupation before its busy pre Christmas manufacturing period. Craig Davies, head of the firm's corporate and commercial team, and property solicitor Kate Pearce advised on the property transaction.

Dr Steele said: "We've used Pickerings before and given the existing local relationship with our new bankers it was a no brainer to instruct Kate again. Ultimately what matters is delivering the goods in a project like this, and Kate and Craig did that."

Pickerings partner Craig Davies added: "The move to the new premises in Burntwood marked yet another successful milestone in the history of Mercian Labels. We were delighted to be the key legal advisers on the project working within considerably tight timescales and would like to wish the owners and staff of Mercian Labels every success moving forward."

Interior architecture consultants DSD Design led by Tony Salmon from Birmingham advised on the refit design and specifications.

The project was supported by the Regional Growth Fund and the Business Development Programme that encourages job creating businesses in Staffordshire to grow and fulfil their potential.