A GLOBAL firm behind containers for the food industry says it hopes to attract more North-East workers after being overwhelmed by the success of its regional plant.
Faerch Plast, based in Durham, is one of Europe's leading container makers, producing ready meal trays and packaging for cold foods, bakery, dairy, and fruit and vegetable snacks.
Bosses say they expect to increase its North-East workforce from 60 up to 150 permanent posts, and have bought a 30,000sq metre plot adjacent to its factory that will allow further expansion.
It has also invested heavily in production equipment at its plant, which is the company's first in the UK, and has installed a number of robot packing lines to increase production.
Founded in 1969, Faerch employs about 500 workers across three factories in Durham, Denmark and the Czech Republic.
Joe Iannidinardo, Faerch Plast UK managing director, said the firm was incredibly pleased with its initial success.
He said: “There will eventually be about six robot packing lines, which will help to keep man hours low and further boost production output.
“This type of packing is becoming common in our sites in Denmark, Czech Republic, as well as the UK, and we are using these techniques more and more across all three plants.
“The new plant in Durham has definitely given us a major competitive edge, and our UK customers have been reassured by the benefits offered by local supply, including closer support.
“We are confident the factory will continue to go from strength to strength, with further significant growth, and the future certainly looks bright for the company in the UK.”
The company's roots can be traced by to 1869, when young entrepreneur Rasmus Faerch founded a tobacco company.
However, in 1969, the family withdrew from the tobacco industry, but Jurgen Faerch, the chairman of its board of directors, bought four machines for making plastic packaging from a disused factory to start Faerch Plast.
