Robinson posts better profits but filling UK plant capacity remains a challenge
1 min read
The plastic and paperboard packaging manufacturer Robinson has reported an upward shift in sales and profits as its primary market sectors proved resistant to the current downturn.
The group saw 2008 pre-tax profits improve by £1milion to £1.3millionon revenues up by 1% to £25.8 million (2007: £25.5m).
Commenting on the results, chairman, Richard Clothier said: "We are pleased to report improved profits despite the difficult market conditions. Higher input costs have been passed on and margins have benefited from the rationalisation of overheads in 2007. Our primary sectors, food, drink and toiletries have not yet experienced a significant downturn in activity but our continued growth in 2009 will depend on whether the recession does begin to affect our customers."
Based in Chesterfield, Robinson has additional manufacturing facilities in Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Stanton Hill, Nottinghamshire, in Toronto, Canada, and in Lodz, Poland. Its main activities are in the manufacture and sale of injection moulded plastic packaging and rigid paper packaging for the likes of Procter & Gamble, Nestle, Cadbury, Kraft, Unilever, Masterfoods, Premier, Avon, Northern Foods and Chivas.
In his report, Clothier said Robinson’s customers had continued to relocate manufacturing to central Europe to take advantage of lower costs and while this had a beneficial impact on its Polish business, filling the void left at the UK plants remained a challenge.
