ABOUT US
Overview
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.
COVID-19
Due to the unprecedented nature of the spread of COVID-19, Firstan have implemented robust procedures, control measures and contingency plans to enable us to protect our staff, customers and other stakeholders whilst continuing to provide our usual service levels.
The nature of our business and our BRC Packaging Materials certification in particular, mean that hygiene is always high on our agenda. Annual refresher training in hygiene has recently been delivered to all staff with a strong focus on the Coronavirus spread prevention measures issued by Public Health England.
In conjunction with this, we have increased the provision of hand sanitising points in the building, covering all entry and exit points to the building and other strategic locations around site.
All non-critical meetings and business travel commitments are currently postponed in order to limit potential contact with the virus. Videoconferencing is being utilised on a regular basis for a wide variety of tasks that would usually be conducted on-site such as customer meetings, interviews and audits.
Appropriate prompts, reporting requirements and advice have been added to our electronic visitor management system, used by all non-employees that visit our site. We have also restricted access to the site for non-essential visitors.
Strict social distancing requirements are in place throughout our site for our staff and any essential visitors to further reduce risk of spread from those who may be carrying the virus whilst asymptomatic.
Full details of our control measures can be found in our detailed risk assessment here
OUR JOURNEY SO FAR
1976 – 2016
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.
Firstan has the capacity to produce over 1 Billion cartons annually.
AWARDS
![]({"default":"http:\/\/www.firstan.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC02974.jpg","2x":"","mobile":""} "Printed cartons")
![]({"default":"http:\/\/www.firstan.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC03111.jpg","2x":"","mobile":""} "DSC03111")
