RORY LAUNCHES EXPORT WEEK IN INNOVIA CLARITY™C BUBBLE LINE VISIT
Rory Stewart MP has congratulated Innovia Films on their new Bubble 8 Clarity™C line at their Wigton site, taking the opportunity of a visit there this weekend to also raise awareness of UKTI’s Export Week and highlighting the fantastic work that Innovia does in research and development, and exporting ground-breaking new technologies abroad.
Rory was given a tour of the new production facility by Research and Development Director Andrew Bayliff, along with local councillors Duncan Fairbairn and Joe Cowell. During the visit he able to see the production process from start to finish, part of an overall investment programme of over £40 million which includes the build of a completely new Innovia Security opacification plant. It will enable Innovia to continue its important work producing its Guardian® substrate at the same location as the Clarity™C, the base film used to make Guardian®. The Clarity™C line has increased security controls to ensure that only those with official clearance have access to the restricted areas.
After the tour, Rory discussed the exciting new development with Andrew Bayliff, saying: “It is always an enormous pleasure to visit Innovia, and I’m delighted – particularly in Export Week - to be able to see the new Bubble 8 Clarity process in action. Innovia’s new substrate plant is one of the most advanced in the world, and as Cumbrians we should be very proud that it is leading the way globally in polymer technology, right here in the heart of the north-west. Companies like Innovia really set the standard for other privately-owned, pioneering companies which place huge importance on investment into R&D and in the creation of jobs through ambitious business development. I congratulate them on their work, as well as the excellent links they foster with the local community.”
Mark Robertshaw CEO said: “We would like to thank Rory for his unstinting support of Innovia. And we are truly delighted that our unique film manufactured here in Wigton will be used for the Bank of England’s new £5 and £10 banknotes. The first banknote to be issued is the £5 note featuring Sir Winston Churchill in 2016.”
Export Week, which runs from 9-13 November, is an initiative of UKTI, encouraging North West businesses to attend a week of free trade seminars to find out about the growing export markets available to them. Previous Export Weeks have seen over 27,000 companies in the UK attend exporting-focussed events to date. For more information visit http://bit.ly/ExportWeek2015
