Fedrigoni UK general manager Mick McDonagh said the group was committed to expanding its UK business in the packaging field, in particular in the areas of security and wine labels.

McDonagh revealed the plans as the company held a seminar on developments in luxury packaging and security packaging, at its Northampton sales office. He said that Fedrigoni was confident that packaging would be one of the company's strongest growth sectors in the next 18 months to two years.

3The Fedrigoni Group includes self-adhesive label producer Manter and self-adhesive security paper manufacturer Arconvert. Product from the two companies would be part of expansion plans for new and existing ranges, though McDonagh said it was too early to talk about specifics.

The company is expected to open a further sales office in London later this year or in 2005. A new tool to help designers and printers will also be launched in September. Entitled "Imaginative Papers", it will provide swatches on all the company's product ranges, and will also contain an interactive CD-ROM.

End users will be able to put in basic parameters such as print application and end requirement from which they will be advised on which papers will be most suited for the job.