Sunhope Packaging Machinery

Sunhope Packaging Machinery (ZHENJIANG) Co., Ltd a world-leading provider of innovative packaging solutions is establishing a new UK division called Sunhope Packaging Machinery (UK) Ltd in Glenrothes. 

With its core team based in Zhenjiang City, which is in the Jiangsu Province of China, Sunhope has been involved in the manufacture of machinery for over thirty years. In recent times, with a growing demand globally for a return to paper bags, the business has grown to be the leading manufacturer of paper bag machines and ancillary equipment for the packaging industry in China, and additionally, has a strong market in South Asia. 

APPROACH

Sunhope Packaging Machinery (ZHENJIANG) Co., has collaborated with Scottish Development International (SDI) and InvestFife to identify and acquire the ideal site at Southfield Industrial Estate. The site is being fully refurbished mostly by local Fife businesses to serve as a modern facility and demonstration hub, showcasing Sunhope machines to potential customers from the UK, Europe, North America, and beyond. 

After considering potential sites in France, The Netherlands, and Belgium, Sunhope chose to establish a factory in the UK. The Glenrothes site was selected due to its proximity to existing Sunhope customers and its easy access to major road networks of Central Scotland and Edinburgh Airport for receiving international customers. The new factory will also serve as a training hub, offering comprehensive training packages for customers’ personnel. Additionally, the factory will showcase production processes and demonstrate Sunhope machines in action. 

NEXT STEPS

Sunhope's vision to scale growth and innovation from Scotland in Europe wouldn't be possible without having access to excellent talent. This has proved essential to resource the business’s broad role profile from technicians to office support personnel.

With the site modernisation now complete, Sunhope expects its first machine to become operational in 2025, producing around 400,000 paper bags each week, which will be further resourced by additional machines later next year. Once the facility is fully functional, the team will play a crucial role in carrying out installations and servicing and will provide training locally and globally. Sunhope will then be able to offer more comprehensive support to customers worldwide.

The company plans to gradually increase its headcount to 30 employees, working in shift cycles as more machines become operational. Andy Lindsay, Managing Director of Sunhope, expressed confidence in sourcing talent locally and providing high-quality training. The company also intends to collaborate with local training providers, such as Fife College, to offer apprenticeship programmes. These programmes may include qualifications accredited to SVQs, aiming to build a sustainable talent pipeline for the future.