Future of 50-year-old packaging firm increasingly unclear

The future of a Derbyshire-based designer and manufacturer of plastic packaging is increasingly unclear after it posted a third notice of intention to appoint administrators (NOI) in a month.

Thermoform was established by Dennis and Doreen Perks in 1973. Originally a light engineering company, the Ashbourne firm gradually moved into the vacuum formed packaging industry over the next decade, investing in the first TFT thermoforming machine in the UK in 1983.

The business has completed work for a host of high-profile brands including Tunnock’s, Farmhouse Biscuits and Kinnerton.

Thermoform posted its first NOI on 19 April – protecting itself from creditors for a period of ten days – with the second following on Thursday (4 May). The third was posted on Friay (May 19).

Accounts made up to 31 July 2022 show Thermoform owed its creditors just over £2m, and in turn was owed almost £1.7m.

The company employs around 40 people at its base on Airfield Industrial Estate.