Pictured above: CFN Packaging's Sales Director Peter Wood

Lincolnshire firm CFN Packaging has invested in technology which it hopes will open up new markets.

The polythene packaging specialists have installed a new numbering machine which prints sequential numbers and barcodes on polythene film and bags.

Hospitals, health centres, banks and supermarkets are just some of the potential clients CFN Packaging hopes will take advantage of the new service.

"It's a very versatile piece of equipment which we run alongside our existing bag machines," said CFN Packaging's Production Manager Jason Richardson.

"It can be used in hospitals to keep track of samples, it can print numbers on bags for use in banks or it can print barcodes for use in food retail."

The £13,000 machine is just the latest investment in technology and premises at CFN Packaging. 

The firm is completing a major £250,000 expansion and refurbishment of its Skegness factory and recently installed two polythene extruders and a new recycler which allows it to re-use its own waste and produce recycled plastic bags on site.

"Despite the doom and gloom surrounding the economy we've had a very good year," said CFN Packaging's Sales Director Peter Wood.

"The market is buoyant across all sectors, including food, industrial and retail, which was reflected in a 10% increase in our sales across the board over the past year.

"We have not experienced any effects of the recession and we are continuing to invest in new plant to keep up with market growth - a major part of which will be the food sector."