A family business founded by the inventor of the process of packaging products using a shrinkable film has successfully completed its latest order worth £80,000.

Shrinkwrap Machinery Co. Limited was launched by David Frith, the late father of current directors Peter and Jeremy, in 1967.

He invented the concept of what was to become known as shrink wrapping in the mid 1950s while running his own research and development company.

More than 60 years later the process remains a successful worldwide industry with Poole-based Shrinkwrap Machinery still a major player, enjoying particular success in the laundry sector.

The company designs and manufactures a range of high-speed shrink wrapping machines for a wide variety of businesses in the UK and Europe.

Its latest contract was to supply a new, fully automatic laundry wrapper to commercial facility Belmont Laundry in Essex.

Also supplied were 30 metres of straight flat bed conveyors, two modular 90 degree bends and a rolling conveyor.

The network included four inclined conveyors running from low to high level,

The whole system was designed, manufactured and installed by the Shrinkwrap team over a weekend.

Peter Frith, Managing Director, said: “We specialise in bespoke solutions but we’ve never designed anything we haven’t found use for in another job.

“I’m very proud of the company. I was here when I was ten helping to clean the new machinery and it’s really been a part of my life ever since.”

Andy Cattell, CNC miller/machinist, one of 14 people employed by Shrinkwrap Machinery.

His brother Jeremy, who heads up design, added: “We don’t just do shrink wrapping but can turn our hand to all sorts of other things, literally from garage doors to radiators.

“Dad was a great inventor and designer, and a big influence on both of us. His spirit lives on to this day.”

Shrinkwrap Machinery employs 14 people and has a £750,000 annual turnover.

Well-known Dorset customers include Hall & Woodhouse and Johnsons Stalbridge Linen Services.

A sister company, Diverse Precision Engineering, provides high quality precision engineering to a number of different industries

Another member of the Frith family, Debbie – a high profile member of the Dorset business community – is the company’s Business Development Manager.

She said: “There really are no problems these guys (Peter and Jeremy) cannot solve.

“They always come up with a solution and that’s why our customers have stayed so loyal to us over the years.”