An expanding packaging company has signed up as the sole UK and Ireland agent for the world’s third largest manufacturer of metal twist-off food lids.

Professional Packaging Services, which this year invested £650,000 in a larger base in Esholt to meet global demand for its services, has linked up with Technocap, a privately owned company that produces closures for European brands including Mars Foods, Kraft Foods, Nestle and Sacla. The firm also manufactures for the cosmetics and pharmaceutical market.

PPS will be representing Technocap’s plants in Italy and Czechoslovakia, which will produce 3.1 billion lids this year.

Operating the new division as Technocap UK, PPS will provide a design and delivery service.

Heading the new PPS division will be Chris Milnes, who has had an association with Technocap for five years.

Mr Milnes said: “It is great to be working with two companies which have built up excellent reputations in their respective fields for creativity, flexibility, quality and reliability. There is a good fit between the two businesses and by working in tandem new opportunities could be opened up for both companies.

“Technocap’s aim is to establish itself as the most flexible and competitive supplier to the UK food market, in twist-off lids, and I am confident that we can help it achieve this goal.”

PPS, which specialises in gift and presentation packaging, offers a range of services for brands such as Bacardi, Thorntons and Boots, and has a long-established network of manufacturing partners throughout Europe, the Middle and Far East.

Mr Milnes, who has 20 years’ experience in sales, including in packaging, joined PPS as business development manager as part of an expansion of its sales team to open up new markets and develop existing ones. Grant McIvor has also been appointed business development manager for Scottish markets. He is well known within the whisky industry, having supplied cartons, labels and glass to the sector for seven years.

PPS managing director Simon Bell said: “In Chris and Grant we have two very experienced sales people who have a great track record and are well known within the packaging industry. We are continuing to grow our reputation in new sectors and have enhanced our creative credentials this year with a number of premier awards for our packaging. By increasing the sales team we will be even more successful in promoting our well-designed and cost-effective packaging to a wider range of brands.”