| Benson Group, one of the UK's leading privately | | | | separate IQA/PQG Pharmaceutical Supplier Codes |
| owned carton printers, with headquarters in | | | | of Practice (CoP) for contact and printed |
| Bardon, Leicestershire, has announced that it has | | | | packaging materials. These Codes of Practice |
| gained PS9000:2001 certification in pharmaceutical | | | | were first issued in 1990 and subsequently revised |
| packaging quality standards for its Benson Group | | | | in 1995. |
| Newcastle packaging plant. | | | | About Benson Group |
| In achieving this standard, as outlined by the | | | | Benson Group is one of the UK's leading privately |
| Pharmaceutical Quality Group (PQG) of the | | | | owned printed carton suppliers, producing |
| Institute of Quality Assurance (IQA), Benson | | | | packaging solutions for both the food and |
| Group Newcastle expects to be able to take | | | | pharmaceutical industries. |
| advantage of its lower cost base for long run | | | | Headquarters are in Bardon, Leicestershire, where |
| work. | | | | the company owns 130,000 sq ft of production |
| Commenting on the achievement, Mark Kerridge, | | | | and warehouse space. Benson Group achieves |
| Managing Director of Benson Group, said: "We are | | | | annual sales in excess of £93 million. Food |
| delighted to have met the standards required by | | | | manufacturers are the main customers at Bardon |
| PS9000:2001 at Newcastle. This accreditation | | | | and for the company's two North East facilities in |
| means that we are now able to offer customers | | | | Newcastle and Gateshead. These two sites have |
| additional assurances with regard to security of | | | | a combined total of 200,000 sq ft of |
| supply. To be able to offer a "within-group" | | | | manufacturing and warehouse space. The fourth |
| disaster recovery plan also provides specific | | | | site in Crewe, Medica Packaging, serves |
| benefits to customers with regard to | | | | pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. It has |
| confidentiality." | | | | 73,000 sq ft of manufacturing, warehouse and |
| "With three B1-format presses on hand, Benson | | | | office space. Since 2000, investment in new plant |
| Group Newcastle has plenty of printing capability | | | | and equipment across the four sites totals in |
| for long-run pharma production, and the plant is | | | | excess of £25 million. |
| also very well equipped with regard to volume | | | | Benson Group creates packaging for many |
| finishing applications." | | | | well-known companies, brands and retailers. Key |
| The news follows the recent announcement | | | | account clients across the Group include |
| regarding the installation of Europe's first Komori | | | | GlaxoSmithKline, Northern Foods, Reckitt Benkiser, |
| Lithrone SX40 press at the company's nearby | | | | Greencore, Bakkavör, Samworth Brothers, and |
| Gateshead plant. The installation included the | | | | leading supermarket chains. |
| upgrading of other Komori presses in the two | | | | For further information on the Benson Group visit |
| North East facilities. | | | | the web site. |
| The Pharmaceutical Quality Group (PQG) of the | | | | Press Information |
| Institute of Quality Assurance (IQA) has | | | | For further information on Benson Group, its |
| developed PS9000:2001 with the aim of providing | | | | operations, or on packaging products or packaging |
| a widely accepted framework of best practice | | | | issues please contact: Russell J Hicks Genesis |
| within the pharmaceutical packaging supply | | | | Marketing Services (Milton Keynes) 29 Foxholes |
| industry. It applies ISO9001:2000 to | | | | Close, Deanshanger, Northamptonshire MK19 6HA |
| pharmaceutical print and contact packaging | | | | Tel/Fax: 01908 260 662 Mobile: 07885 852 |
| materials. | | | | 428e-mail: Russ. |
| PS9000:2001 is based on and replaces the two | | | | |