28 September 2026
kp St Helens plant earns winner and runner-up honours at the Operational Excellence Awards
Klöckner Pentaplast (kp) has been recognised at the 2026 Operational Excellence Awards for the transformation of its St Helens manufacturing site. Through investment, continuous improvement and a disciplined Operational Excellence programme, the site has evolved into a dedicated manufacturing hub for kp Infinity®, kp's recyclable EPP food packaging solution.
The site was named winner in the Operational Excellence in Manufacturing award category, recognising a multi-year transformation that has combined operational excellence, manufacturing innovation and long-term investment. A site that was once facing significant market and regulatory challenges has been successfully repositioned as a dedicated production centre for kp Infinity®, supporting customers as they transition away from expanded polystyrene (EPS) and towards recyclable food packaging solutions.
The transformation included a multi-million-pound investment in the St Helens facility, alongside the implementation of structured Operational Excellence disciplines, including Total Productive Manufacturing, predictive maintenance, data-driven decision making and continuous improvement programmes. These initiatives have delivered measurable improvements in productivity, quality, reliability and operational resilience while creating a platform for future growth.
The transformation included a multi-million-pound investment in the St Helens facility, alongside the implementation of structured Operational Excellence disciplines, including Total Productive Manufacturing, predictive maintenance, data-driven decision making and continuous improvement programmes. These initiatives have delivered measurable improvements in productivity, quality, reliability and operational resilience while creating a platform for future growth.
David Midgley, Business Excellence Manager UK Trays, at kp said:
"We are delighted that the work carried out at St Helens has been recognised by the Operational Excellence Awards. Being named winner in the Manufacturing Excellence category and runner-up in the Green Excellence category is a fantastic achievement for the site and reflects the dedication, expertise and commitment of our teams, who have helped transform the site into a more efficient, resilient and future-ready manufacturing operation."
"The decision to establish St Helens as a dedicated manufacturing hub for kp Infinity® was a strategic investment in both our business and for our customers. By bringing together operational excellence, innovation and continuous improvement, we have created a strong platform for sustainable growth while helping customers respond to changing regulatory and market requirements."
Today, the St Helens site plays a central role in the production of kp Infinity®, a recyclable mono-material EPP packaging solution developed to align with UK recycling infrastructure while maintaining the performance required for foodservice applications. The site's transformation demonstrates how Operational Excellence can support innovation, strengthen manufacturing capability and deliver long-term value for customers, employees and the wider business.
The Operational Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding organisational performance across the UK and Ireland, recognising businesses that demonstrate excellence in areas including manufacturing, sustainability, continuous improvement and operational performance.
To learn more about kp Infinity® and kp's packaging solutions, visit our website.
"We are delighted that the work carried out at St Helens has been recognised by the Operational Excellence Awards. Being named winner in the Manufacturing Excellence category and runner-up in the Green Excellence category is a fantastic achievement for the site and reflects the dedication, expertise and commitment of our teams, who have helped transform the site into a more efficient, resilient and future-ready manufacturing operation."
"The decision to establish St Helens as a dedicated manufacturing hub for kp Infinity® was a strategic investment in both our business and for our customers. By bringing together operational excellence, innovation and continuous improvement, we have created a strong platform for sustainable growth while helping customers respond to changing regulatory and market requirements."
Today, the St Helens site plays a central role in the production of kp Infinity®, a recyclable mono-material EPP packaging solution developed to align with UK recycling infrastructure while maintaining the performance required for foodservice applications. The site's transformation demonstrates how Operational Excellence can support innovation, strengthen manufacturing capability and deliver long-term value for customers, employees and the wider business.
The Operational Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding organisational performance across the UK and Ireland, recognising businesses that demonstrate excellence in areas including manufacturing, sustainability, continuous improvement and operational performance.
To learn more about kp Infinity® and kp's packaging solutions, visit our website.
About Klöckner Pentaplast
Focused on delivering its vision: The Sustainable Protection of Everyday Needs, kp is a global leader in rigid and flexible packaging and specialty film solutions, serving the pharmaceutical, medical device, food, beverage and card markets, amongst others. With a broad and innovative portfolio of packaging and product films and services, kp plays an integral role in the customer value chain by safeguarding product integrity, assuring safety and consumer health, improving sustainability, and protecting brand reputation. kp’s “Investing in Better” sustainability strategy solidifies its commitment to achieving ten clear targets for long-term improvement by increasing the recycling and recyclability of products, cutting carbon emissions and continuous improvement in employee engagement, safety, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
For five consecutive years, kp has held a gold rating from EcoVadis, the leading platform for environmental, social and ethical performance ratings. This ranks kp in the top 1% of companies rated in the manufacturing of plastics products sector.
Founded in 1965, kp has 27 plants in 16 countries and employs c.5,000 people committed to serving customers worldwide. kp is proud to have celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2025.
For more information visit: www.kpfilms.com
Media contacts:
Karen Quirchove
Marketing Communications Director, Food Packaging
food.packaging@kpfilms.com
+33 (0)7 84 03 04 40
Hilary Barnes
Group Director, Global Communications
kpinfo@kpfilms.com
+44 (0) 7393 249 967
Focused on delivering its vision: The Sustainable Protection of Everyday Needs, kp is a global leader in rigid and flexible packaging and specialty film solutions, serving the pharmaceutical, medical device, food, beverage and card markets, amongst others. With a broad and innovative portfolio of packaging and product films and services, kp plays an integral role in the customer value chain by safeguarding product integrity, assuring safety and consumer health, improving sustainability, and protecting brand reputation. kp’s “Investing in Better” sustainability strategy solidifies its commitment to achieving ten clear targets for long-term improvement by increasing the recycling and recyclability of products, cutting carbon emissions and continuous improvement in employee engagement, safety, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
For five consecutive years, kp has held a gold rating from EcoVadis, the leading platform for environmental, social and ethical performance ratings. This ranks kp in the top 1% of companies rated in the manufacturing of plastics products sector.
Founded in 1965, kp has 27 plants in 16 countries and employs c.5,000 people committed to serving customers worldwide. kp is proud to have celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2025.
For more information visit: www.kpfilms.com
Media contacts:
Karen Quirchove
Marketing Communications Director, Food Packaging
food.packaging@kpfilms.com
+33 (0)7 84 03 04 40
Hilary Barnes
Group Director, Global Communications
kpinfo@kpfilms.com
+44 (0) 7393 249 967
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