AN Ayrshire-based coding and labelling supplier has made its first foray into the booming gin market by supplying a Scots drinks firm with a complete bottling line.
ITS (Identification Technologies Scotland) has been servicing the Scottish whisky and sprits sector for just shy of two decades with inkjet coding, labelling, case coding, laser coding and pallet labelling machinery and counts industry stalwarts such as Edrington, Broxburn Bottlers and Whyte & Mackay among its client base.
The company predominantly supplies ALS self-adhesive labelling and Linx inkjet coding equipment into the Scotch whisky sector but now Stirling-based VC2 Brands has enlisted ITS to supply a complete bottling line for its Boe Gin brand.
“The gin was manufactured by a third party and they decided to bring it in-house,” explained Derek Muir, managing director at ITS. “They picked us to supply the complete line. We sourced all the equipment for this line and we will install with their help. That’s a filler to fill the bottles with gin, a capper to put the cap on, then two labellers to apply a back and front label, a length of conveyor to sit that on and an inkjet to provide the batch number on the bottle; so we’ve done everything from start to finish with this project.
“We have a range of products within our product database and we pick the best fit for the job; the one that best suits the customer’s requirements.”
Graham Coull, director at VC2 Brands said, “We have found ITS to be a good company to deal with; prompt, attentive with great industry and machine knowledge.
“(They) go out of their way to assist with any technical issue we have with any of our equipment and always offer and deliver solutions, which when you operate a busy production facility is paramount.”
Derek added, “This is our first (line) in the gin industry so we’re hoping to be able to do quite a bit there. A lot of it is very small and they don’t need any kit, but some of them will progress further.
“Most of the companies we’re dealing with, we’ve dealt with for about 20 years without them ever changing away from us. We support them through anything at all; no matter what, we will never walk away.”
