UK’s Wilkins Group invests $ 3 m for factory at Mawaramandiya

Wednesday, 10 September 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

New world class packaging factory

At the foundation stone laying ceremony (from left): Wilkins Spence Sri Lanka Director Yasantha Suriyapperuma, Wilkins Group UK Group Chairman and Managing Director Andre Wilkins, Wilkins Group Finance Director Ann Wilkins, Marks & Spencer PLC UK Head of Packaging Kim Phillips and Head of GM Packaging – Production, Quality & Sourcing Trevor Hatchett. Wilkins Spence Sri Lanka, a subsidiary of the Wilkins Group UK recently laid the foundation stone for its $ 3 million plus state-of-the-art factory to produce retail packaging solutions. Present at the foundation stone laying ceremony were Wilkins Group UK Group Chairman & MD André Wilkins, Group Finance Director Ann Wilkins, Wilkins Spence Sri Lanka Director/Head of Overseas Marketing Yasantha Suriyapperuma, Marks & Spencer PLC UK Head of Packaging Kim Phillips and Head of GM Packaging – Production, Quality & Sourcing Trevor Hatchett among others. Situated in Mawaramandiya, this 40,000 sq.ft factory will be built on the principles of green architecture adhering to the US Green Building Council Standards for LEED certification and is targeted for a mid-2015 launch. The architect of the project is Sanjeewa Lokuliyana of Design Republic. Speaking at the ceremony, André Wilkins said, “Having emerged from a three decade long conflict, Sri Lanka is now experiencing a massive resurgence in economic activity on all fronts. As infrastructure projects are put into place, the country is poised to welcome new investors to take economic activity to the next level. This building will house one of the world’s major facilities to produce retail packaging solutions. Setting up a facility of this nature in Sri Lanka is a move in the right direction and shows the Group’s commitment and confidence both in Sri Lanka and the surrounding region. We look forward to a greater collaboration with our Sri Lankan partners and customers to an even more buoyant and successful future in the years to come.” Suriyapperuma added that Wilkins is a highly specialised business in providing packaging solutions for brands and retailers in the European Union and the USA. “The 150 strong workforce of this new facility have undergone special training in printing and Quality Assurance in accordance with European Union and USA market standards. A substantial share of our production is for one of the world’s best known retailers – Marks & Spencer. Equipped with Heidelberg machines, this facility will be unique as a small format packaging solution unit with LEED certification. Wilkins Spence Sri Lanka is a BOI company and has been in business in Sri Lanka for over fourteen years. It is a subsidiary of the Wilkins Group UK which has one of the largest packaging factories in the UK, and, packaging factories in other world locations in addition to Sri Lanka. A family-owned business with a rich history of over half a century, The Wilkins Group UK is steered by Group Chairman/Managing Director André Wilkins and Group Finance Director Ann Wilkins plus Justin Wilkins Group Marketing Director and Aron Wilkins Group Operations Director their two sons. The customer driven Group is focused on innovation and investment in the latest technology as it supplies packaging for many of the UK/EU and world retailers and brands.