Packaging Solutions
Tray sealing specialist Proseal has expanded its business in the US with the opening of a new production facility. The growth of Proseal America reflects the hard work and dedication of the Proseal America team, in particular in identifying and meeting the growing demand in the US for fresh convenience foods.
The new facility – situated next to the company’s existing plant and office in Chesterfield County, Virginia – means Proseal America has effectively doubled in size to approximately 50,000 square feet. The company now has a staff of around 80, including highly trained engineers who fully manufacture the heat seal toolsets and spare components, as well as oversee the final fitment and testing of the Proseal tray sealing machines made at the UK headquarters.
‘While we were already gaining a share in international markets before we started Proseal America, we decided that, to make the most of the opportunities in the US, we needed to establish our own base so as to ensure the highest levels of localised support,’ explained Gari Wyatt, CEO of Proseal America. ‘We came to central Virginia because there is a fabulous pool of labour here – and almost a decade on, it is the skill and dedication of our employees that has driven our success.’
Proseal’s advanced range of tray sealers is enabling food manufacturers to meet a shift in consumer preferences in the USA towards fresh convenience foods. The machines are also helping companies achieve greater throughputs and efficiencies while delivering high quality packaging.
Proseal America is now considering a further expansion that will enable it to produce entire machines for its customers. As part of this growth plan, the company is developing strong relationships with local colleges to start an in-house apprenticeship training programme to further strengthen the business’s foundation.
‘The new Proseal America facility is testament to the hard work and ability of all our team in the US,’ commented Steve Malone, Proseal’s director, who co-founded the business with fellow director Robbie Hargreaves in 1998. ‘The flexibility of our tray sealer range is very much answering the needs of the US market, and our biggest challenge, a good one, is simply meeting the demand.
‘This success only encourages us to keep innovating and developing as new opportunities arise.’
Proseal’s on-going success in the USA and other overseas markets was recognised this year when it received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.
