FRIP (London) was created after the group bought the foiling interests of Alexir Packaging from Croydon-based Excalibur Finishers. It operates from the same 1,000m2 factory, and eight former Excalibur staff have now been brought under the FRIP umbrella.

FRIP group managing director Leslie Gibson said: "We are delighted to be opening our fourth factory to service the South East market. My goal is to double the business in London over the next 24 months to a turnover of 1m employing 15 staff."

The expansion will enable the group which also has facilities in Hinckley, Stockport and Glasgow to provide more comprehensive national coverage, he added.

"The new London factory will enable FRIP to fulfil its strategy of growing its share of the large-format sheet market nationally, from approximately 20m sheets this year to 25m," said Gibson.

FRIPs services include sheetfed hologram application in addition to PVC and plastics processing.

Story by John Davies