Company Background

Corrupad Packaging's history goes back over one hundred and twenty years, it has changed names and products a number of times, although it has always been based in the paper producing industry. To find the birth of the Company it is necessary to go back to before the Company was actually formed.

The Old Building In 1862 Messrs Smith, Stone and Knight set up a paper mill in Landor Street called Union Mill. The Company began to produce straw paper and traded under the name of Smith Stone and Knight. In 1874 a second paper mill was started in Cheston Road, Aston and this site was called Aston Paper Mill, which again produced straw and chip paper; this was the birth of the present Company.

In 1924 William Dolan founded the Dolan Company at Berrys Hill, Collyhurst, Manchester, producing fancy wire stitched boxes. In 1933/34 a single faced corrugator was installed at the Cheston Road site, when the Company began to produce single faced rolls and paper. Between 1939 and 1945 the Cheston Road site manufactured cartridge paper for the Ministry of Defence. During this time the site was bombed, damaging many of the paper producing machines. In 1947 Smith Stone and Knight extended production of Union Paper Mills to Cranemore Street, Nechells.

In 1950 production of Fibrine, a tar-backed paper used in the roofing industry, was moved from Union Mill to Cheston Road. During 1955/56 an enquiry from a customer for cushioning type packaging led to the development of the current product "CORRUPAD".

In 1958 "CORRUPAD" went in to full production with four variations of the same product. These CORRUPADS came in three shapes, FLAT, ANGLED and U-SHAPED; the fourth variation being a glued composite for certain pads. The introduction of band saws enabled these pads to be cut down so that they could be glued.

In 1963 Union Mill was closed down and all production of straw and chip paper was moved to Cranemore Street.

Up until 1970 the Company went from strength to strength. In this year William Dolan Limited acquired the share capital of Smith, Stone and Knight Limited, they also extended their interests to collecting, processing and re-pulping waste paper, paper making and the manufacture of paper bags.

In 1971 the Dolan Group re-organised and with this came Company name changes. The Holding Company being Dolan Packaging Limited with subsidiary corrugated divisions under the name of Dolan Corrugated Containers. In 1972/73 the corrugator that was installed at Cheston Road was modified to bring it up to date and a semi-automatic rewind and bridge was fitted. During this period production of Fibrine ceased. In 1974 Dolan Corrugated Containers, based at Cheston Road, was re-named Aston Packaging Limited. ln 1976 the Fibrine Department was used to produce Globular Embossed Paper. ln 1978/79 a Sheet Plant, converting board in to cartons and fittings, was opened at Cranemore Street, Nechells under the management of Aston Packaging Limited. During this time it was realised that the Globular Embossed Department had become non-profit making and was not a supportive development and production ceased.

ln 1983 a Single Faced 'E'-Flute Corrugator was installed. In 1984 management changes encouraged the development of current labour intensive methods to semi-automatic/automated production and a need to improve and develop new products from Corrupad. This led to the development of "PROTECH" and "PALLET PACK", and during 1985 the first sample runs of PROTECH passed in to production. During this period the production of 'E-Flute' paper ceased.

In October 1987 Aston Packaging was acquired by the Macfarlane Group. During the period 1989 - 1996 the whole complex of factory units and offices were demolished and rebuilt, in some instances new buildings were erected over existing ones, while the work-force continued with production, even breaking previous records for product output. All but one machine (the Corrugator) was moved during this period, and of the original buildings, only one still stands, this being the Power House located at the front of the premises. During this same period the Company added to its product base EDGEGUARD, MOULDED PULP PRODUCT and CORRUTECT and a closed net box recycling system in conjunction with Rank Xerox Company. during this period the Company began exporting its technology and know-how, via Franchises, to many parts of the world. Its products are, in fact, now being produced in the USA, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Germany, Holland, France, Ireland, Poland and Eastern Europe.

In July 1999 the Macfarlane Group was restructured and the site was renamed to Macfarlane Packaging and the new product lines were discontinued to make way for a corrugated board conversion plant.

In December 2001 the current owners Dependable Packs acquired the site, and the name was changed to Corrupad Packaging. At the same time Macfarlane Group removed the corrugated conversion equipment to be used at other Macfarlane sites.

November 2002, Corrupad Packaging website launched.

As can be seen from the above Corrupad Packaging Limited is a forward thinking Company, which is keen to encourage not only its Management team but also its workforce to be open to new ideas and changing approaches to manufacturing and design within the market place.