British paper and packaging mill James Cropper has named Andrew Cockerill as business development manager to push the mill’s corrugating papers into the luxury packaging sector.
Cockerill has 27 years’ experience in the sector both on the supplier and converter side of the fence since joining RPC as a process engineer in 1997. He has worked for the likes of DS Smith, Librapack and Corrboard among others with an emphasis on building and maintaining long term customer relationships.
In his new role, Cockerill will be developing markets for Cropper’s fluting and lining papers. The lining papers can be provided with textured finishes for the luxury packaging sector. Most brands have used solid boards for this tranche of the market as corrugated has been associated with a more down market image. But pressures on sustainability through light weighting, improved appearance through direct printing and requirements for larger styles of packaging and display materials is expanding interest in corrugated.
The growth of inkjet printing results in less stress on corrugated boards than conventional flexo, is also appealing for a brand that is using Cropper’s substrates elsewhere in its marketing.
Cockerill says: “James Cropper has a reputation that genuinely stands apart. Not just for the quality of its paper, but for the depth of expertise behind it. Joining at a time when the business is investing, evolving, and sharpening its focus across different markets made it a very easy decision.
“It’s a great opportunity to be part of a business that can operate at both ends of the spectrum, delivering premium, highly specialised solutions while also supporting more scalable, high volume applications.”
The appointment continues Cropper’s renaissance which has led to the launch of Coloursource as its own brand of coloured papers, support for graphic designers and stress on sustainability of its own product which includes papers that use recovered fibre from coffee cups.
James Cropper managing director Paul Barber says: “We are delighted to welcome Andrew to James Cropper. He brings a rare combination of technical depth and commercial instinct, underpinned by decades of experience across the corrugated and wider packaging sectors.
“As we continue to balance premium innovation with scalable production, Andrew’s perspective will be instrumental in helping us grow in a way that is both sustainable and commercially robust, while continuing to deliver the quality and service our customers expect.”
