Based in Newtownards Co Down, Print Library is one of Northern Ireland’s leading print and packaging specialists, producing cardboard sleeves, cartons and boxes for food and lifestyle customers across Ireland and Great Britain.
Etablished in 2001, Print Library has experienced impressive growth year- on-year.
Investing over £3 million during that time, the business has improved efficiencies, expanded its offering to customers, and is on a journey to become one of the most sustainable printers on the island of Ireland.
The company only uses certified boards that are sourced from sustainable forests, vegetable-based inks, and vegan-friendly glues to produce packaging for customers, including Fortnum and Mason, Mash Direct, Dunnes Stores, Lidl, Centra and SuperValu.
Anti-Viral Technology
Print Library uses state-of-the-art anti-viral technology for water-based coatings across its product offering.
This means that all packaging is more hygienic to touch, while remaining fully biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable, helping customers meet sustainability and corporate responsibility practice without compromising on quality.
“Customers and consumers increasingly expect products to be as sustainable as possible and produced in the most environmentally friendly way, and rightly so,” said Geoff Truesdale, director at Print Library.
“We have always prided ourselves on our sustainability ethos – we want to present our customers with a high-quality product that leaves a lasting impression, but no lasting impact on our environment.
“That commitment to sustainability is something that cuts across all our operations, and is reflected in our internal processes, as well as in the end-product.
"We need to practice what we preach. For example, all our PPE on the factory floor is sustainably sourced and we have installed electric vehicle charging points on site. There is always more we can all do as society moves towards reaching net zero, but we are making progress and we strive to lead the industry in this area.”
Unprecedented Growth
After years of working together in the industry, Truesdale started Print Library with co-founder Michael Thompson in 2001.
Since then, Print Library has seen unprecedented growth in the fast- moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector in particular, which makes up a significant part of Print Library’s business.
Earlier this year, the firm launched an online portal for clients, allowing Print Library’s customers to reorder packaging they regularly need to save on lead times.
Combined with machinery improvements that have boosted productivity by 30% in recent years, Thompson said that these developments will bolster further growth across the island.
“In the over 20 years that we have been in business, we have continually invested to remain competitive,” said Print Library co-founder Michael Thompson.
“We always use the best technology available to deliver the best possible quality for our customers.
“We have a great team, and together we have worked hard to achieve AA BRCGS Global Food Safety Standard recognition and the globally recognised FSC and PEFC accreditations, which show our commitment to ethical practices.
"Our business has seen 17% year-on-year growth in recent times, against the backdrop of wider challenges like inflation and the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our eyes are very much on the future, and we want to grow even further. We are already an established market leader in the north, and we are keen to grow our market further in Ireland, building on our work with household name Irish brands.”
Diverse Client Base
As well as food and drink, Print Library’s diverse client base also includes well established brands in the health and beauty industry, including Thompson Carter, OH MY GLAM, Way To Beauty, Born & Bred and Olivia’s Haven.
While the sectors that Print Library serves are varied, for Geoff, the same principles of quality and individuality apply to every product.
“I love the variety,” said Truesdale.
“Having a diverse mix of clients challenges us to always be at the top of our game and to create unique, eye-catching packaging for each customer. Whether you are working with a food product, a luxury perfume, or a bottle of premium whiskey, strong packaging that gives brands a distinctive identity on-shelf is vital in today’s competitive marketplace.”
To find out more about the eye catching solutions that Print Library can offer to make your products pop on shelves, contact the team at +44 (0) 28 9048 9800, email [email protected], or visit the company’s website Print-library.com
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