A Bradford packaging firm is all set to expand even further after its most successful year ever.

Mailway Packaging is increasing the size of its premises in Pitcliffe Way, West Bowling, in preparation for one of its biggest-ever orders from a big-name firm.

The investment will provide an extra 12,500sq ft to the building and will bring the site space up to 56,500 sq ft.

The company provides packages for a wide range of firms for product launches and special promotions. Much of the glitzy Christmas packaging on gifts in the shops at the moment was produced this summer at Mailway.

Some of them are special packages of Terry's Chocolate Orange, an exclusive jar of KP Peanuts for Sainsbury, men's toiletry packs including Lynx and Old Spice and decorative sleeves for Gordons Gin and Teacher's Whisky which are sold in duty free shops.

Specialist sleeving is also done for Chicken Tonight and Sizzle & Stir products and Christmas cartons for Oil of Olay.

The firm has seen an amazing growth in the past 12 months and expects this to continue over the next few years.

Mailway, which was started with a handful of staff by Glynn Dowler in 1976, expects to add 20 staff to the 230 it already employs at two sites in Bradford and Skelmersdale - both Investors in People sites.

The firm's first job was stickering Daz cartons for Procter and Gamble. Now even more jobs are expected to be created next year as extra orders come in.

The firm, which expects its turnover to be more than £10 million this year, has invested £400,000 in the extension, a yard canopy and new equipment this year.

The management team includes managing director Richard Bramma, technical director Tim Lees and marketing director Stephen Whitehouse.

During the past four years Mailway has invested heavily in primary sleeve labelling technology and introduced round-the-clock working.

Louise Elkington, the firm's marketing manager, said: "We pride ourselves on being flexible for customers and providing a quality service. This year we have had our best year ever and we are preparing for one of our biggest contracts which is due to start next year."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.