Wessex Packaging

What Wessex Packaging does

Wessex Packaging Ltd is a UK-based, family-owned designer and manufacturer of bespoke protective packaging, operating from a single 9,000 sq-ft facility in Salisbury, Wiltshire since 1977. The company produces custom-cut foam inserts (polyethylene, polyurethane, Stratocell, Plastazote, Ethafoam, anti-static and conductive variants) and corrugated cardboard packaging (1.5mm–9mm thicknesses, FEFCO-standard styles, and approximately 150 stock die cut carton sizes) for end customers across automotive, electronics, medical equipment, engineering, aviation & defence, scientific equipment, and chilled/frozen food sectors; marquee end customers include Rolls-Royce, Mercedes AMG Petronas, JCB, Network Rail, Siemens, Carefusion, and Liverpool Football Club. Production is carried out by a 15-person team using specialised equipment including beam presses, a 1300x900 laser cutter, foam routing machines, and rotary creaser/slotters, with a 7–10 working day standard turnaround and a 1% non-conformance rate under ISO 9001 (held since 2002).

The business runs a quote-based, design-led sales model: bespoke jobs are priced on materials, dimensions, complexity, and quantity, and customers are acquired via a free design and sampling service, the company's website, and direct phone/email contact. Distribution is primarily through the company's own two-vehicle fleet for nationwide UK delivery, supplemented by couriers, with an indirect channel through packaging merchants such as Kite Packaging Group, Boxway, and Answerpak Ltd that resell bespoke solutions to their own clients. Revenue is generated from one-time sales of bespoke packs, FEFCO cartons, wooden crates and pallets, printed packaging, and standalone design services; revenue figures are not publicly disclosed and the company has remained privately financed since its 1999 acquisition of Carton Industries Ltd. Recent investments include Beam Press machines (2023), a new box making machine (installed March 2024), and a February 2024 partnership with Bayquest Packaging.

Name

Wessex Packaging

Legal name

Wessex Packaging Ltd

Website

https://wessex-packaging-salisbury.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wessex Packaging Ltd is a UK-based, family-owned manufacturer of bespoke foam and corrugated cardboard protective packaging, founded in 1977 and operating from Salisbury with 15 staff, serving enterprise customers across automotive, electronics, medical, engineering, and aviation sectors with design-led, quote-based orders and nationwide delivery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Protective Packaging

NAICS

Urethane and Other Foam Product (except Polystyrene) Manufacturing (326150), Paperboard Container Manufacturing (32221)

SIC

Plastics Foam Products (3086), Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650)

akta.pro primary industry

Foam Protective Packaging (EPS/EPE/EPP, PU, Molded Foam) (IMALAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corrugated Packaging & Boxes (RSC, die-cut, bulk bins) (IMAMAHAA), Sustainable Protective & Cushioning Materials (Paper Cushions, Bio-Foams, Mycelium) (IMALAMAH), Protective & Cushioning Packaging (Bubble Wrap, Air Pillows, Foam-in-Bag) Manufacturing (IMANAEAF)

Keywords

• Bespoke foam packaging
• Custom cardboard packaging
• Protective industrial packaging
• Die cut cartons
• Corrugated packaging manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Salisbury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Bespoke foam packaging products: Manufacture and sale of bespoke foam packaging including polyethylene foam, polyurethane foam, Stratocell, Plastazote, Jiffy foam, Ethafoam, anti-static and conductive foam variants. Sold as bespoke cut-to-size inserts, endcaps, and foam sheets.
2. Bespoke cardboard packaging products: Manufacture and sale of bespoke cardboard packaging including corrugated cardboard (1.5mm to 9mm thick), FEFCO style boxes, die cut cartons, combined cardboard and foam composite packs.
3. Wooden crates and pallets: Supply and manufacture of wooden crates, bespoke size wooden pallets, and solid-board tubes.
4. Free design and sampling service (lead generation): Free design and sampling service offered to attract customers; leads to manufacturing orders. Design services can also be offered standalone.
5. Printing services: One or two colour printing on cardboard packaging using Cooper printer with rubber stereos. Standard ink colours stocked plus pantone colour matching available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wessex Packaging designs, manufactures, and supplies bespoke foam and cardboard packaging products, including custom-cut polyethylene and polyurethane foam inserts, corrugated cardboard cartons, FEFCO-style boxes, die cut cartons, and wooden crates and pallets. The company produces one-off, custom-engineered protective packaging for industrial customers, complemented by a free design and sampling service and one/two colour printing. Materials span polyethylene foam, polyurethane foam, Stratocell, Plastazote, Jiffy foam, Ethafoam, corrugated cardboard (1.5mm to 9mm), Corrpad, and plastic Correx.

Product overview

Wessex Packaging is a designer and manufacturer of bespoke foam and cardboard packaging solutions operating since 1977. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of products including bespoke foam packaging (using polyethylene and polyurethane foams such as Stratocell, Plastazote, Jiffy Foam, and Ethafoam), bespoke cardboard packaging (corrugated cardboard in various grades from 1.5mm to 9mm thickness), die cut cartons (approximately 150 sizes including 0427 pizza style and 0421 types), FEFCO standard box styles, Corrpad laminated materials, wooden crates and pallets, and house moving packs. The company also provides printing services using Cooper printing technology, free packaging design and sampling services, and nationwide delivery. Materials include anti-static, conductive, and flame retardant foam variants, and the company operates across sectors including automotive, electronics, medical equipment, engineering, aviation and defence, chilled/frozen food, scientific equipment, broadcast industry, and packaging merchants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bespoke Foam Packaging Custom-designed foam packaging solutions tailored to individual product requirements using polyethylene and polyurethane foams in various grades (Stratocell, Plastazote, Jiffy foam, Ethafoam) including anti-static, conductive, and flame retardant variants. Targeted at industrial B2B customers needing protective inserts for automotive, electronics, medical, and engineering products.
• Bespoke Cardboard Packaging Custom-designed corrugated cardboard packaging solutions manufactured to specific sizes and specifications, ranging from standard B Flute to export grade materials (1.5mm to 9mm thickness), including white, oyster, brown, and conductive grades for electronics. Targeted at industrial customers needing bespoke outer and inner packaging.
• Die Cut Cartons Pre-made die cut cartons available in approximately 150 standard sizes, including 0427 (pizza style) and 0421 type formats, available with or without foam fittings. Available without tooling charges, enabling rapid fulfilment for industrial customers with standard sizing needs.
• FEFCO Style Boxes Internationally standardised corrugated cardboard box styles manufactured using FEFCO codes, ranging from commercial rolls and sheets (01) through slotted-type, telescope-type, folder-type, slide-type, rigid-type, and ready-glued cases (07). Made in infinite sizes without tooling using rotary creasing/slotting machines, targeted at industrial shippers needing standard-recognised packaging formats.
• Wooden Crates and Pallets Custom-manufactured wooden crates and bespoke-size wooden pallets, with or without foam fittings, supplied to industrial customers needing heavy-duty or export-grade shipping platforms.
• Packaging Design and Sampling Service Free design and sampling service for bespoke packaging, with end-to-end packaging design and standalone design services available. Supports customers through concept prototyping using in-house design expertise, helping validate fit and protection before production orders are placed.
• Cardboard Printing Services One or two colour printing on cardboard packaging using a Cooper printer with rubber stereos. Standard ink colours are stocked and Pantone colour matching is available for branded custom packaging.
• National Delivery Service Nationwide delivery across the UK using the company's own two sign-written vehicles or a courier service for smaller orders and faster deliveries. Standard bespoke lead time is 7 to 10 working days.

Quantifiable outcome

• Non-conformance rate of 1%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Bayquest PackagingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 February 2024Wessex Packaging announced a partnership with Bayquest Packaging. The collaboration has been described as extremely seamless due to their likeminded approach to business and continual focus on providing customers with the highest quality products and service. Further details about the nature of the partnership are not extensively disclosed on the available source material.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Davpack: UK supplier of cardboard boxes, packaging materials and bespoke protective packaging serving SMB and industrial customers. Comparable in product range (cardboard + foam) and direct-sales UK distribution model.
• GWP Group: UK-based designer and manufacturer of bespoke protective packaging (foam, corrugated, timber cases) for industrial, electronics and engineering customers. Directly comparable in product mix, custom design service and target verticals.
• Kite Packaging: Large UK packaging merchant/distributor that is both a Wessex customer and a competitor in cardboard packaging supply. Comparable in product range, UK focus and reliance on merchant distribution channels.
• Macfarlane Group: UK-listed protective packaging distributor and manufacturer (Bunzl heritage) offering cardboard, foam and custom-designed protective packaging. Comparable in bespoke protective packaging focus and UK distribution scale.
• Atlas Foam Products: UK manufacturer of protective foam packaging, including polyethylene, polyurethane and anti-static foam inserts. Directly comparable in foam material expertise and bespoke cut-to-size service.
• Rajapack: Major UK/European packaging distributor supplying cardboard boxes, protective packaging and shipping materials to businesses. Comparable in product breadth and SMB/enterprise UK customer base.

Broad incumbents

• DS Smith: Global FTSE-listed packaging incumbent with a major UK corrugated and protective packaging business serving automotive, electronics and industrial customers. Comparable end markets but vastly larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Sealed Air: Global protective packaging leader (Bubble Wrap, Instapak foam-in-place, Cryovac) serving food, electronics and industrial customers. Comparable in protective/cushioning product categories but at multinational scale with broader portfolio.
• Pregis: Global manufacturer of protective packaging including polyethylene and polyurethane foam, paper cushioning and inflatable systems. Comparable in foam protective products and industrial customer base, but much larger and US-headquartered.
• Smurfit Kappa: Global paper-based packaging giant with corrugated, protective and bespoke industrial packaging offerings across Europe. Comparable in product categories and Europe-wide reach but operates at vastly greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wessex-packaging-salisbury-ltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wessex Packaging