Firstan is the UK’s leading independent packaging manufacturer, producing over 500 million cartons annually at our ‘next generation’ 85,000 sq ft facility in Cambridgeshire, with a capacity to produce over 1 Billion cartons annually.

Firstan Quality Packaging was first established in 1976 initially manufacturing printed cartons for various industries. Firstan has grown significantly since this time and we believe this is due to our high level of customer service, professionalism and quality. We design and manufacture printed cartons for the Pharmaceutical, healthcare, cosmetic and food retail sectors in particular.

Firstan Quality Packaging is proud to be an Independently owned company and we continue to make significant investment in our packaging manufacturing facility and our staff in order to improve workflow and efficiency for our customers. Our investment program ensures we have the most sophisticated equipment and the most efficient systems in order to provide you with the best product and best service. Being an independent company enables us to be dynamic and customer oriented.

Firstan Quality Packaging is heavily focused on quality and continues to meet or exceed industry quality standards. We have achieved certification to ISO 9001:2008 and PS 9000:2011 Pharmaceutical Packaging materials, as well as the Environmental ISO standard ISO14001 at our ‘Next generation’ manufacturing facilities in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire.

With in-house Reprographics, CAD design studio, and CTP manufacturing, Firstan Quality Packaging can guarantee the seamless JIT print solutions needed in today’s business climate.

Formed in 1976 and originally based in a 2.000 sqft site on the outskirts of Cambridge Firstan has fast become one of the most respected folding carton producers in the UK.

By the early to mid-ninety’s the company were occupying over 50.000 sqft of production space and were one of the early adopters of CTP plate making systems, replacing outdated manual methods of planning and plate making, we were also one of the first companies in the UK to adopt UV Printing and at around the same time the company became accredited with BRC hygiene certification along with PS9000 pharmaceutical accreditation, in addition to this, the new site has been accredited to ISO 14001, environmental accreditation.

1976

Heidelberg 1 col Kord x 2 Heidelberg 2 colour MO SBB cylinder cut crease x 2

1979

Relocated to 10.000 sqft

1983

Roland 4 col

1988

Added extra 12.000 sqft

1993

ISO9001 and PS9000 pharmaceutical accreditation

1994

Became one of the first UK companies to have an onsite CTP facility

1995

Became one of the first UK companies to adopt UV printing

1999

BRC accreditation

2007

FSC and PEFC accreditation

2009

Relocated to purpose built 85.000 sqft site

2010

Occupation of the new site took place in early 2010 and has seen investments in equipment and machinery in excess of £12m

2012

ISO14001 certification and won Starpack packaging award

2015

ISO12647-2 colour management accreditation

Today

Since our move to the new site in 2010 we have made many investments in factory machinery and a sophisticated ERP system

Through its growth it has seen many changes from printing with letterpress machinery, cutting and creasing on had feed platens and the introduction of Lithographic Printing

By the early to mid-ninety’s the company were occupying over 50.000 sqft of production space and were one of the early adopters of CTP plate making systems, replacing outdated manual methods of planning and plate making, we were also one of the first companies in the UK to adopt UV Printing and at around the same time the company became accredited with BRC hygiene certification along with PS9000 pharmaceutical accreditation, in addition to this, the new site has been accredited to ISO 14001, environmental accreditation.

The decision to move to the existing site was taken by the board in 2007 as part of its long term growth and investment plan.

Occupation of the new site took place in early 2010 and has seen investments in equipment and machinery in excess of £12m.

Today, the site has the capacity to produce more than 1 Billion cartons per annum and employs around 150 people operating 24/6.