Cullen Sustainable Packaging Invests £5m to Expand Glasgow Manufacturing Capacity

Cullen Sustainable Packaging has committed £5 million to expand its manufacturing base in Glasgow, increasing production capacity and supporting workforce growth at its 14-acre site.

The privately owned company, which currently produces around 500 million packaging items annually, aims to double that output through further investment in equipment, facilities, and entry into new markets. The latest funding has already resulted in additional roles, continuing a steady expansion in staffing over the past decade.

A central element of the investment is the introduction of the Moulded Fibre Machine 8000, a new production line designed and built in-house by Cullen’s engineering team. The system was developed over six months and, according to the company, achieved rapid output gains shortly after commissioning.

Cullen manufactures a significant portion of its own production equipment rather than sourcing externally, a strategy it says enables tighter control over volumes, operational pace, and product specifications. Machine 8000 incorporates the latest iteration of the company’s belt technology, aimed at improving efficiency and product quality.

The expansion also forms part of a broader site upgrade programme. This includes enhancements to existing production lines and the installation of a Kasemake X5 corrugate sample table, designed to accelerate the preparation and delivery of packaging prototypes to customers.

The company operates a closed-loop recycling system, processing more than 8,000 tonnes of corrugated waste annually from its own operations and reusing the material in moulded fibre production.

Maureen Stevenson, head of marketing at Cullen Sustainable Packaging, said the investment reflects sustained customer demand and added that further expansion phases are already being planned.