By Dave Robson
To gain ISO accreditation within just three months speaks volumes for the new packing and fulfilment facility recently opened by Stiller Warehousing and Distribution.
But that’s exactly what’s happened after the long-established firm took over and refitted a former engineering building on Grindon Way.
The 42,000 sq ft building, which stands just 1.6km from Stiller’s main Ridgeway HQ on Aycliffe Business Park, houses a range of contract packing and assembly services – complementing Stiller’s long-established warehousing and distribution operation.
Handling project work, peak periods and seasonal stock demands, whether raw materials or finished goods, it integrates customers’ packing and distribution needs into one place.
And commercial manager Lizzie Alsop feels that having a separate, dedicated building for contract packing helps take what Stiller offers to the next level.
She said: “Contract packaging isn’t a new venture for us – we have been offering this service for some time in small areas of our site – but with this facility, we have ensured we have room to service more customers on the business park and further afield.
“The new facility opened operationally in January and within three months, we had gained ISO accreditation.
“Achieving this industry recognised standard reflects the strength of our working polices that are throughout our business and the dedication and strength of the team to make this work.”
The contract packing department has 22 full-time staff, but in order to be able to deal with client requirements staff numbers can rise up to 60 supported by a dedicated management and supervisory team.
Services offered include hand assembly, repacking, labelling, remedial work, fulfilment, stock returns, product kitting and disassembly.
And as if to prove the operations versatility, the sectors Stiller service range from anything from automotive and industrial to household and even beauty products.
Current work streams and projects include:
• Sub-assembly and assembly of industrial personal protective equipment.
• Vertical form filling, sealing, boxing and palletisation.
• Repackaging of consumer and construction products on behalf of a retailer.
• Hand assembly of gift boxes and fulfilment to residential addresses with client’s nominated carriers.
• Fulfilment of point-of sale display equipment to high-street chain shops and supermarket concessions.
Lizzie explained: “We currently have one third of the facility being used for a long-term contract, with the second ‘third’ used for short-term contracts – customers who come in and we do a job for a couple of days or weeks.
“The final third part is prepared and ready to accommodate new work.”
Part of the new unit also houses something close to the hearts of Stiller employees – the firm’s partner charity, The Children’s Foundation.
This process helps new parents and gives their children the best start in life, the charity provides baby boxes full of childcare essentials, developmental toys and even bedding.
Those items are stored and packed at the new Stiller’s unit for distribution across the North-East and beyond.
Lizzie added: “Whether it’s accommodating specialist packaging requests or packing and despatching boxes for The Children’s Foundation, the new warehouse, is already more than proving its worth.
“We have lots of different workstreams and projects. The list can go on and on – basically it’s a blank page.
“Even though we’re undertaking some large long-term contracts, we can cater for small projects too and everything in between.
“We often find ourselves helping companies looking to scale up or who are dealing with large growth.
“By outsourcing to Stiller we can help store, package and get their goods to market quickly and efficiently via our full service offering.”
It’s the latest development for the famous Stiller firm, which is celebrating its 70th birthday in 2024.
Its Newton Aycliffe operation, spread over 20 acres, currently employs 200 people and turns over more than £21m in sales a year.