SIRANE’S new manufacturing facility in Mexico should be in full production by September – with the team currently working hard to get all the operational requirements in place.
Sirane took formal possession in early June, and it is now all systems go, with machinery built at the company’s headquarters in Telford, UK, being sent over and installed in the factory ready for use, and the necessary modifications being made to the building. Sirane’s UK factory has full BRC accreditation, and Sirane Mexico will operate to the same standards.
And while the initial focus will be on the soft-fruit market – with a first trade show lined up for August, ahead of production beginning – the ambitious team at Sirane Mexico have plans to actively develop other markets, including medical & healthcare.
Sirane Mexico is based in Guadalajara, close to the major berry growing regions and the headquarters of many major growers, and will focus initially on absorbent fruit pads – with the market for berries in particular and soft-fruit in general the major target.
But long-term the company has plans to develop a market for all of its food packaging range, particularly absorbent pads and cooking bags, as well as medical & healthcare products. Sirane’s expertise in absorbency and material science mean that the products we can make can be used in many varying and diverse industries on a global basis.
Simon Balderson said: “Sirane Mexico is a major step for the company – we’ve still got some work to do between now and September, but it is exciting times. It is important for us that the new manufacturing facility in Mexico is of the same standard as the UK, so we’ve got work to do getting the facility up to the levels that will meet BRC accreditation.
“All of this should be in place by September, when we can start producing absorbent pads for soft fruit for the local market, and then we can grow the business from there.
“Mexico has a large population and a growing economy, and is positioned geographically in a very good location – and our food packaging range will be of interest to many companies in the region, particularly those involved in the meat and seafood trade.
“Once we’re fully up and running we’ll be looking at what other opportunities our unique expertise in absorbency and material science will open up… whether it be food packaging, absorbency for use in medical environments, or even industrial products.
“It may well be the soft-fruit industry that took us to Mexico, but we’re not just opening a factory to make soft-fruit pads. There will be much more to come from Sirane Mexico.”
Mexico’s soft-fruit industry is one of the largest in the world. Its temperature, height above sea-level and rainfall make growing conditions absolutely ideal. Vast quantities of fruit including strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries are exported to Europe, North America and even the Far East – making packaging vitally important.
For these reasons the first trade show Sirane Mexico will exhibit at is a soft-fruit show, Aneberries, which takes place at the Expo Centre in Guadalajara from August 10-12.
Sirane offers a range of absorbent pads for fruit, including standard absorbency, absorbent ‘cushioned ‘ Soft-Hold bubble pads, and our new Dri-Fresh ABV anti-microbial pads, which contain a blend of natural bio-flavonoids and organic acids which naturally enhance fruit’s own protective defences. We also offer pads with ethylene absorbency incorporated.
All of these products will be manufactured at the new 1,500 sq m unit in Guadalajara, in an innovation park where there is scope to expand the site as the Mexican business grows.
Sirane’s food packaging division offers a wide range of products, including absorbent pads for meat, seafood, fruit, poultry and cheese, cooking bags for the oven, microwave and bbq, protective packaging such as sticky boneguard, and dividers for food presentation.
With a population of more than 122 million in Mexico alone – and great access to the Pan-American Highway connecting Guadalajara to the wider region – Sirane Mexico could well be kept very busy servicing the food packaging needs of South and Central America.
To contact Sirane Mexico, email Adam Green at adam.green@sirane.com or Josua Vega at jos.vega@sirane.com. Jos is based locally and can be contacted on +521 333 8428 448.
