Printed cup company invests in Clitheroe following acquisition

Printed Cup Company has made a major investment in its manufacturing operation, installing a new high-speed dry offset printing machine at its Clitheroe factory following the acquisition of the business by entrepreneur Oliver Alcock.

The new equipment, which entered production in September 2026, enables Printed Cup Company to print directly onto recyclable plastic cups in up to six colours, significantly increasing the speed and volume of its UK-based production.

The investment forms part of a wider programme to develop the company’s manufacturing capabilities following the acquisition, with a focus on increasing production in Clitheroe, improving efficiency and giving customers greater flexibility when ordering bespoke printed packaging.

The new machine can produce printed cups for milkshakes, smoothies and other cold drinks, alongside ice cream and frozen dessert cups. The new production line is capable of printing up to 3,000 cups per hour, compared with approximately 280 cups per hour using the previous production machines, representing an increase in hourly production capacity of approximately 1000%.

This six figure investment also means Printed Cup Company can now manufacture significantly larger volumes in-house, reduce production and offer improved lead times. Although the machine has only been operational since September, the impact is already being seen on the Clitheroe factory floor.

Oliver Alcock, CEO of Printed Cup Company, said: “When I acquired Printed Cup Company, one of the things that attracted me to the business was the fact that we actually make things here in Lancashire.

“I want us to keep investing in that. This machine isn’t just about buying another piece of equipment, it allows us to make more products here in Clitheroe, produce it faster and take on work that would have been much more difficult for us previously.

“We’ve made a lot of changes since the acquisition, but seeing new equipment running on the factory floor and products coming off the line is probably one of the most satisfying parts of what we’re doing.There is a lot more I want to do with the business, and this is another step towards where I believe Printed Cup Company can go.”

Francine Kenyon, Commercial Director at Printed Cup Company, said: “The difference it has made to the way we work is huge. Previously, producing these cups involved a much more manual process, whereas we can now put work through at a completely different speed and scale.

“For the production team, it means we can get more through the factory while still concentrating on print quality. It also gives the sales team much more flexibility when customers come to us with larger or more urgent requirements. It’s probably the biggest change I’ve seen in our production operation during my time with the company.”