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CCL Label expansion will create new jobs.

Much-needed new jobs are being created in Ashford as one of the town’s leading manufacturing companies puts expansion plans into action.

CCL Label is increasing its manufacturing capability at Foster Road, Ashford, to meet a growing need for its specialist products – and is using one of the town’s oldest established building firms to carry out the work.

Epps Construction began work this month on the 1,700 sq m extension, which is set to create at least 15 new jobs and has been designed by Ashford-based RDA Architects.

The specialist labeling company has been in Ashford since 1990, initially as part of the Inprint group that was acquired by CCL Label in 2005. The company provides a range of labels and information leaflets for the pharmaceutical, clinical trial and agrochemical markets.

It currently employs more than 150 staff at its 4,500 sq m Ashford building, with the majority of jobs being taken by local people.

“Although we serve the UK market, 85 per cent of our output is exported, principally into mainland Europe, which is why our location here in Ashford, with its good transport links, is so important,” explained CCL Label’s European Marketing Coordinator Claire Richardson.

Because the products have to meet stringent standards laid down by the industries being supplied, they need to be manufactured in a carefully-controlled environment, which has meant close attention to detail by architects at RDA.

Based in Evegate Barn in Smeeth and contracted to supervise the works, RDA is an RIBA Chartered Practice that operates throughout the south east and has already worked with CCL Label, acting as architects for an earlier expansion.

“The build will exceed current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and PS 9000 standards for manufacturing packaging materials for pharmaceutical products,” Claire explained. “The design and materials have been selected to provide the correct working environments to adhere to all procedural, health and safety and environmental needs.”

CCL Label is the global market leader in labeling, with 60 sites worldwide. CCL Label Ashford – a premier site within the company – is one of the leading UK producers of Expanded Content Labels –multi-page booklet-style labels that can be opened up to reveal additional information.

The extra manufacturing capacity now being provided by the Epps Construction team will help the company expand its digital label printing, a process that provides greater flexibility for smaller print runs.

General Manager Stuart Morel said the company had asked Epps to carry out the nine-month build because of the Ashford firm’s “competitiveness and positive approach to providing cost-effective solutions with a commitment to quality and because their practical approach to medium-scale projects provided a good fit with the size of our build.”

He added: “We also liked the fact that they are a local company with a long heritage in the Ashford area.”

Managing Director Richard Epps commented: “ We are delighted to be working with CCL Label on a project that shows Ashford is still an attractive place to be despite the sluggish economy. It is also good to know that when we finish the building it will be providing new jobs for local people.”

Epps Construction carries out a wide range of building projects across the south east, including NHS construction work, schools and colleges, village halls, sports centres, affordable housing and private homes as well as specialist ecclesiastical work.