The Samuel Grant Group, which includes Samuel Grant Packaging, is delighted to announce that Clingfoil has joined the Group. 

Based in Stockport and with £7M of annual sales, Clingfoil are one of the North West’s largest independent distributors of protective packaging materials and stretch film product solutions, providing goods to a wide range of customers across distribution, e-commerce, and manufacturing markets. 

By bringing Clingfoil’s manufacturing capabilities into the Group, Samuel Grant will be able to combine their expertise with their own, and actively seek out new innovations and products that can deliver improvements and efficiencies for its customers. The acquisition will allow the team to further develop and research 30% recycled machine and hand stretch film for pallet wrapping. In the light of the recent plastic tax being introduced, the ability to research and develop new films in house will add a huge amount of value to Samuel Grant’s stretch film and pallet wrapping proposition. 

Clingfoil was established in 1982 by brothers, Mark and Paul Kenyon, and has grown organically over the years, driven by the brothers’ strong focus on partnerships and customer collaboration, evidenced by a significant number of longstanding relationships within its customer base and an excellent reputation across its networks. The brothers have now reached retirement.  

There are an overwhelming number of similarities between the two businesses in terms of culture, family values and the support they give their employees, all 21 of whom will continue to work there when the merge happens. They will also retain their office, warehousing and manufacturing facility. Whilst Paul Kenyon has already retired, Mark will stay within the business to facilitate a seamless transition for the company and conduct a detailed handover of operations. 

Andrew Grant, Samuel Grant Group’s Joint Managing Director said: “Given the challenges of international supply that we are finding, adding a UK manufacturing arm to our business will help hugely with continuing to provide our customers with the best possible service. It will also allow us to conduct in-depth research into more environmentally friendly alternatives to virgin polymer stretch wrap, and help us to introduce effective stretch-wrapping solutions with increased recycled content to help reduce the impact of the plastic tax.” 

Park Place acted as lead advisor to Samuel Grant Group on the transaction. Ben Peacock, Partner at Park Place, commented: “We are delighted to have advised on bringing these two family businesses together. Samuel Grant will be an excellent home for Clingfoil and alongside their new 30,000 square foot distribution centre in Leeds will support the Grant family’s significant growth aspirations for the group.” 

Andrew Bradley and Victoria Innes of Knights provided legal advice to Samuel Grant Group. Funding for the acquisition was provided by NatWest. Dave Wilson from Spinnaker Corporate Finance advised Clingfoil, with Mark Heppell, Sara Bluston and Abigail Gallagher from JMW Solicitors acting on their behalf. 

Michael started his journey with Samuel Grant 11 years ago as a Coordinator after working in construction and realising it just wasn’t for him. Through hard work and eagerness to gain knowledge in this new industry his role has since developed to Internal Sales Office Supervisor, which he sees as one of his biggest achievements so far.  

Through the support of everyone around him, Michael has progressed massively during his time at Samuel Grant and has attained a great amount of knowledge in an industry he originally knew very little about.  

When we asked Michael what his favourite things about working at Samuel Grant are, here is what he had to say: 

“I love the diversity of what we get involved with, we work with many industries from heavy industries to home furnishings. It’s great to create different solutions for our customers which keeps me very interested.”   

When talking about the future of Samuel Grant and of packaging as a whole, Michael said: 

“I can’t wait to carry on being part of a team that continues to innovate. Everyone wants to go greener at the minute with their packaging. This is something we are going to continue to focus on so we can find solutions for our customers and concentrate on taking new environmentally aware products to market. At Samuel Grant we have the experience and resources to achieve this ahead of our competition.”  

Lastly, Michael would encourage anyone considering a role in packaging to go for it because of how interesting it can be. It provides a challenge and a variety of things to do day in, day out – “it isn’t repetitive at all!” 

The future of pallet wrapping is 30% recycled – but not today

News of the Government’s forthcoming Plastic Packaging Tax has attracted criticism and praise in equal measure. While some – including Samuel Grant – see it as a commendable move towards more sustainable practices, it’s important not to overlook the bigger picture.

A good example is Stretchfilm – a wrapping plastic used to stabilise pallets for logistics. Samuel Grant specialises in recommending the most environmentally sustainable wrapping materials for clients, such as Samson Nano film.

This is a high-performance film designed to reduce overall plastic consumption and reduce the carbon footprint.

However this material does not contain the 30% recycled plastic required to avoid the new Plastic Tax and we need to explain why this remains the most environmental and cost effective way to wrap pallets.

High performance stretchfilms are manufactured using only the highest performance extrusion equipment, with the highest grades of virgin polymer. Unfortunately even the purest recycled material available today could not be processed by this machinery without causing damage.

This means that in order to include recycled material into stretchfilm you must use lower performance machinery that can cope with the contamination in the recycled polymer.

The end result is a stretchfilm containing 30% recycled material and 70% virgin polymer that has 50% lower performance than our Samson Nano film.

In other words, in order to use the 30% recycled material to wrap pallets you will not only consume more plastic but you will even consume more virgin plastic.

By using extra virgin polymer and valuable recycled polymer in greater quantities the increased costs are far more than the £200 saved by avoiding the tax.

So with such a negative message about recycled stretchfilm why do Samuel Grant Group strongly support the Plastic Packaging Tax?

1. Firstly the tax and the resultant increase in the value of waste plastic will take waste from landfill and introduce it into the recycling stream.

2. We are adding many plastic based products into our range that do benefit from the inclusion of recycled polymer such as polythene bags, pallet covers, polythene sheeting, recycled strapping and many more.

3. Most importantly, the demand for high grade recycled polymer is creating a whole new industry – the chemical recycling industry.

The majority of plastic recycling is currently done by mechanical recycling in the form of sorting, chopping up, washing, pelletising.

The new chemical recycling industry uses various innovative methods to reduce mixed plastic waste into the precursors for polymerisation – it turns plastic back into an equivalent to Oil.

The BBC have a good article on this here:-

The world’s first ‘infinite’ plastic – BBC Future

A good example of this is the new Recycling Technologies plant in Perth.

Innovate UK invests £1.2 million in chemical recycling technology | Resource Magazine

For now, the optimum environmental choice is to take advantage of high performance virgin films to reduce the amount of plastic used, resulting in minimum CO2 emissions and of course recycling the waste film into other plastic products.

When the plastic chemical recycling industry is working at scale Samuel Grant will be the first to bring 100% recycled high performance films to the market.

In the meantime our advisers are on hand to give the best possible advice to continue to get goods to their destination in perfect condition, using options that focus on performance, the least possible environmental impact, as well as advising on the best way to recycle virgin materials.

As a long-standing member of Samuel Grant Packaging, Lee is a true asset to the team. Starting his journey with 10 years at Centre Pack, which was eventually taken over by Samuel Grant, Lee has now been part of the team for just over 9 years.

He has gone from working in the warehouse, to Assistant Buyer and now to his current role as Buyer through hard work, support and training, picking up a CIPS Level 3 and Advanced along the way.

With a wealth of knowledge behind him, we asked how he sees the future of both the company and the packaging industry:

“I can only see Samuel Grant getting bigger and better as we introduce new products and continue to employ experts in every field. Having such a strong team allows you to pick up the phone or have a meeting with others who are experts on products you may not be familiar with, so that collaboratively you can come up with solutions. It helps us keep the company growing and moving forward.

Packaging is going to be very interesting over the next few years with more Eco products and the introduction of the plastic tax. We already have plans in place to make sure that we come out stronger than we were before.”

Lee would advise anyone wanting to start a career in packaging to listen, learn and take on board what people say as there is a lot of product knowledge to learn, but it’s very interesting! Lastly, he offered a special mention to Paul Henderson who was responsible for his training and showing him all he knows to date. Julia Allen also played a key part in building his confidence and encouraging him to believe in his own ability. We are privileged to have such an enthusiastic member on board.

Samson Nano are looking forward to exhibiting at Intralogistex on stand 212 this year. It’s firmly cemented as the favourite show of the year and we’ve missed it!

So what’s new? Well, having been at the very forefront of pallet wrapping technology since its launch in 2013, hence winning the Queen’s Award for Innovation, the Samson Nano’s ethos is to keep it simple.

Aside of the simplicity of the costing model, where all the film, machine, servicing and maintenance and ongoing involvement of the Samuel Grant Packaging experts are all included in a fixed price per wrapped pallet, the controls are kept simple too. Trained specialists do a full analysis of the pallets that are needing to be wrapped, and pre-set the machine stopping any risk of human error or override.

In a time when polymers are at an all-time high cost-wise, and the environmental impact of plastic use is under more scrutiny than ever before, using the smallest possible amount of film to wrap pallets and have goods arrive at their destination in perfect condition has never been more important. By analysing the weight, height and dimensions of the pallets, the specialists pre-set (sometimes a variety) of push-button operations, meaning the machine always works at optimum capability whilst using as little film as possible.

The removal of operator judgement saves time, money, wastage and reduces any risk of badly wrapped pallets causing the damage of goods in transit. The Samuel Grant team take everything into account: weight, size, height, pre-stretch, speed of carriage, rotation speed and reinforcement banding. Nothing is left to chance. Grant’s remain fully involved on a daily basis, monitoring for any changes or issues – failed wraps aren’t paid for by the customer. This commitment is unique to the Samson Nano. The film is perfectly matched to the machines, which even re-orders more itself when needed.

When polymer and film was cheap, Samson Nano was the best option. With price increases coupled with the introduction of the £200 plastic tax, there has never been a better solution. In addition, the heritage of Samuel Grant Packaging’s 130 years in business and their impeccable reputation amongst suppliers means they have maintained a reliable supply chain throughout this year’s shortages, which haven’t affected their clients.

Samson Nano offers a one-stop-shop turnkey pallet wrapping service, backed up by unrivalled levels of expertise, a simplicity that can’t be matched, and an ongoing obsession with reducing carbon footprint by using and wasting as little film as possible.

www.samuelgrant.co.uk/wrapping

The BBC has reported this week on the UK’s national cardboard shortage, caused primarily by the enormous increase in online deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

We’re not going to say it hasn’t been a challenge, it has, but Samuel Grant have risen to the occasion, and have continued to supply all of our customers with a reliable source of quality cardboard through this difficult time, as we always do. 

At Samuel Grant Packaging we have the sleepless nights so our customers don’t have to, and in times like this, it’s more important than ever that we deliver our quality products, on time every time, without the national shortfall in cardboard box supply affecting our clients’ businesses. 

There is a lot of competition in the marketplace, but with 130 years’ experience of supply and demand, we are market-leading packaging merchants by staying ahead of market trends. We use our buying power and reputation to ensure that we mitigate against any challenges, so our customers can run their businesses effectively. That’s why our customers continue to use our support and expertise to get their goods to their destination in perfect condition, and have done for four generations. 

To read the full article from the BBC click here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55878062 

Samuel Grant Packaging celebrates 130 years of trading in 2021. If we put this into perspective given the current disaster we find ourselves in, the business has survived through:

Pandemics

Wars

Financial crashes

Recessions

Millennia

Digitisation

We are stronger for it.

Why does 130 years in business help our customers?

Our customers know that we are a safe bet. We’re not going anywhere. We have survived huge challenges, and helped our customers through challenging times too. From start-ups to enormous manufacturing operations, and everything in between, we are the trusted packaging partner, a constant in a crazy changing world. We pride ourselves on having the latest products, the best suppliers, the most innovation, and the most consistent levels of service.

Why does 130 years in business help our suppliers?

Occasionally suppliers have to make challenging decisions. At the time of writing for example, there is a nationwide cardboard shortage. In times of deciding where to supply a limited resource, the obvious choice falls with the companies with impeccable credit histories, timely payments, and sustained profitability. Our suppliers are assured that we can support them by paying on time, and we can support the supply chain the most effectively with their products.

Why does 130 years in business help our staff?

Despite what the world throws at us, our staff are safe. Safe in the knowledge that we will do everything we can to keep them, and their jobs secure. We exist as a company due to the skillset of our team, and their skills and experience are second to none in the packaging world. We value all our team members hugely, and they know it.

Put simply, 130 years in business creates confidence, from our customers, our staff and our suppliers. Without that confidence, we wouldn’t be here 130 years later and still going strong.

Here’s to the next 130!

Samuel Grant Packaging have just launched a range of PPE and social distancing products. 

New DEKRA certified KN95 face masks for personal protective equipment (PPE) use have been launched. The masks hold a CE certification and have 5-layer filter protection giving our customers peace of mind that their PPE is of the highest safety standard. The masks have a 95% filter efficiency level and are effective against particulate aerosols and free of oil. 

Samuel Grant have introduced a range of social distancing products to help keep your workplace, employees and visitors safe. 

Social distancing product ranges include: 

• 2 metre distance tape  

• PVC material  
• Solvent adhesive 

• Clear message 

• Hazard warning tape 

• PVC material 
• Solvent adhesive 
• Clear message 

• Economy and premium 

• One way / 2 metre distance tape 

• 150- or 300-mm diameter 
• Packed in 10’s  
• Clear message 

• Durable PP 

• “Just sanitised’ labels 

• 40 x 25 mm 
• Paper – can be written on 
• Packed 100 per roll 

Get in touch with our experts for more information on any of our product ranges. 

The Queen’s Award-winning pallet wrapping system by Samuel Grant Packaging, Samson Nano, has continued to deliver unrivalled service through the COVID-19 pandemic 

We have worked throughout the crisis and ensured that those providing supplies to the front line have been well supported, with many of our clients operating in both food and pharmaceuticals.  

As the country begins to move towards a ‘new normal’ and businesses reopen, Samson Nano clients have an added advantage of the machine being Capex free. With no outright payments or hidden costs, clients can manage their budgets more accurately and effectively and are able to account for every penny spent.  

With social distancing now part of normal business practice our Samson Nano system will not only reduce the number of employees required to wrap pallets by up to 75% but will minimise cross contamination found with multiple employees using the same hand roll. The government guidelines have seen many employees shielding up and down the country leaving companies short staffed and struggling to keep up with demand. Our Samson Nano wrappers will keep up with demand and bridge that gap.  

We understand the current uncertainty in cash flow and offer our clients full flexibility as their workforce return, with clients being able to get additional machines if, and when, needs be. 

Introducing the Samson Nano system to your business allows packaging spend to be kept low, with a price per wrapped pallet costing system, meaning clients only pay for the pallets they wrap. There are also no hidden costs of maintenance, service of repair, as we take full responsibility for this.  

To keep up with ever increasing demand, we have recruited two more engineers taking this to 10 employees committed to providing the excellence of Samson Nano service.  

Samson Nano pallet wrappers have pre-set programs tailored to suit your needs which are locked out, so you get a consistent stable wrap every time. Our high quality 33-layer stretch film is wrapped to optimal load containment tensions without causing crushing. This leads to a cost reduction in packaging purchasing, transportation and the cost of replacing damaged goods in transit, saving you time and money with added environmental benefits.  

With upcoming installs of Samson Nano this week, Samson Nano are keeping the industry moving and are ready to supply to new and existing clients. 

Samuel Grant Packaging are delighted to announce the launch of their new Speed Boxes, brought to the market in conjunction with PackSynergy. 

The boxes are an ideal solution for e-commerce. They are quick to assemble, seal and open, reducing labour costs. They are fully customisable and can be printed on, both inside and outside. The speed boxes are available in a huge range of sizes and shapes, and feature a unique tamper-proof closing system which provides peace of mind to despatchers. 

The boxes are made from recycled materials and are 100% recyclable themselves. There is no need for any additional tape / closing, as their self-adhesive band provides all the strength of closure the boxes need. 

Faster and more efficient packing is now completely achievable. To see an example of the speed of the Speed Boxes, watch our video https://youtu.be/ADYim6o8-xI 

Samuel Grant Packaging, the North’s largest packaging distributor, became the UK arm of PackSynergy in 2018, a network of 17 leading European packaging materials distributors. Joining the group of equally innovative and entrepreneurial companies has given Samuel Grant Packaging the opportunity to mitigate the risk of supplier challenges that could be caused by Brexit, expand their distribution network further into Europe, increase their product range, and swap best practice with their European counterparts. 

The group meet regularly to discuss trends and innovations in the world of industrial packaging, to share their knowledge and expertise in a collaborative way. They are also able to pool their experiences in warehouse and logistics management.