Three new appointment for pacepacker services including first international position

To boost their strategic growth plan, Pacepacker Services has made three new appointments; two new UK Sales Managers have joined the company while current Sales Manager, Ian Merchant, has been deployed to the US as a Pacepacker Brand Manager – the company's first international position.

As part of a joint venture agreement, Ian will be based within the North Carolina headquarters of Spiroflow Systems Inc, a global provider of processing equipment, who Pacepacker appointed as their sole US and Latin American Agent in 2010. Pacepacker's MD Dennis Allison comments: "The two companies complement each other perfectly because we both manufacture equipment for the bulk handling industry; Spiroflow manufactures processing equipment and Pacepacker manufactures end-of-line systems, giving both companies the potential to provide turnkey systems. It became clear to us when researching the market and speaking to prospective US customers that local support and service is preferred; I'd go as far as to say that without such it is virtually impossible to penetrate the US."

Managing a team of five Sales Managers dedicated to the promotion of Pacepacker equipment and services to the US market, Ian will also have full access to Spiroflow's extensive network of sales reps and their manufacturing facility in Monroe, North Carolina. Dennis continues: "Our objective is to increase exports as a percentage of our overall turnover year on year. Currently exports are running at 25% of our annual business and we aim to increase this to 36% over a three year period with the appointment of Spiroflow Systems Inc and Ian Merchant as Pacepacker's Brand Manager."

With a 10% year on year growth, Pacepacker is further strengthening their UK sales team to meet customer demand with the appointment of two new Sales Managers - Brian Bell and Chris Francis.

Brian joined the Pacepacker team last summer, working alongside Ian Merchant, before his recent move to the US, to ensure a seamless transition for customers. Commencing his career as a marine engineer for Shell over 25 years ago, Brian has since attained a wealth of experience within the automated packaging industry working for Morray Engineering in Braintree. Here Brian held the position of Export Sales Manager selling their automated bagging and weighing solutions into new and existing overseas markets.

Brian's primary objective will be to concentrate on Pacepacker's range of sack filling, placing and palletising products. Brian commented on his new role: "The modular concept that Pacepacker's core range of automated products offer means that we can tailor solutions to suit most customer requirements with equipment manufactured and serviced from within the UK.

I am also looking forward to promoting the forward thinking, affordable solutions Pacepacker has provides their customers – from the economical Blu-Robot, to the payment programme which can, if required, be split into a number of phases over a period of months or years giving the client clear investment paths to follow."

Chris Francis joined the Pacepacker team in February 2012 and within his new role his initial focus will be to expand Pacepacker's presence within the pick and place market, highlighting the existing product portfolio and launching new designs. Chris brings with him over 15 years of high level expertise within bag and box filling systems from global packaging companies such as Automated Packaging Systems, G Webb Automation and OK International. Chris comments: "I am excited to be spearheading the launch of Pacepacker's new, revolutionary pick and place range, brought to market by the accomplishments of their design and manufacturing team based on consultation with blue chip companies from across the food processing industry.

My solution portfolio will primarily consist of the new revolutionary DeltaPac system designed after Pacepacker identified a demand for a reliable UK constructed stainless steel wash down pick and place solution, as well as the newly patented FlexaPac system, designed and built at the request of the fruit processing industry to effectively place fruit into trays and cases whilst eliminating bruising.''

Dennis Allison, MD of Pacepacker, comments: "We are delighted to have both Brian and Chris on board; their appointments are critical to Pacepacker's continuing success and important to maintaining and growing both UK and overseas relationships."