Our History
Our History
Our history dates back 100 years when Robert Cullen and his sons established a box-making company in Glasgow, on the banks of the River Clyde. In 1921, Robert Cullen & Sons was born and quickly became the local specialist in high-end packaging for premium whisky brands.
Over the years the business diversified into corrugated and moulded pulp products and packaging solutions for the food & drink, medical, produce, industrial & horticultural sectors.
2024
Ongoing machinery investment
Maintaining our position as a leader in sustainable packaging We took delivery of our latest upgrade, our Bobst SPO 1.6 Vision Cut with Type 2 Breaker.
2023
Cullen cut the ribbon on phase 1 of their latest expansion investment
Part funded by the Scottish Enterprise Low Carbon Manufacturing Challenge Fund.
2022
Cullen win Most Outstanding Business Award
The Glasgow Business Awards recognised our dedication to excellence and innovation in the packaging industry. This award reinforces our position as a leader in sustainable packaging solutions.
2022
Cullen launch their latest innovation The Fibre Bottle
A solution for dry goods, the bottle is a viable alternative to single-use plastic bottles and pouches.
2020
CULLEN INVEST IN CORRUGATED PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY
In 2020, Cullen chose to work with Bobst to replace their existing folder-gluers with the state-of-the-art Expertfold 165. The latest investment will be installed in Q3 2020.
2019
NEW WET PRESSING TECHNOLOGY
In 2019, our latest moulded pulp machine began production, using our Wet Pressing Technology to increase production capacity and improve efficiency.
2018
INVESTMENT IN NEW MACHINERY
2017
GROWTH FOR MOULDED PULP
In 2017, an extension to our moulded pulp facility was built adding a 20,000 sq ft warehouse for short term storage and a 15,000 sq ft loading yard with turning area and dispatch office.
2016
NEW EQUIPMENT, RECORD TURNOVER
In 2016, we invested in two HQ, large format 4 colour printers for our corrugated factory providing market leading print quality. As well as this, the company reached a turnover of £15 million with 150 staff.
2011
CULLEN HITS £10 MILLION TURNOVER
In 2011, Cullen Packaging reached a turnover in excess of £10 million for the first time.
2009
CULLEN SAVED FROM CLOSURE
In 2009, Ronnie MacDonald, current Chairman, bought the company Robert Cullen & Sons, saving it from administration and the 125-strong workforce from redundancy.
His son, David MacDonald, joined the company as Director and Allan Maitland became Managing Director.
2007
CULLEN MOVE INTO MEDICAL PULP
In 2007, Cullen entered the medical pulp market, stocking the NHS and HSE healthcare systems, as well as medical facilities in more than 25 other countries worldwide.
2004
SAFEGUARDING FOR THE FUTURE
In 2004, a state of the art fire prevention project was commissioned safeguarding the future of the business.
2003
fire breaks out
In 2003, on a cold December night, a fire broke out in one of our corrugate stores. The fire tore through two warehouses and took nearly 9 months to rebuild. One of the worst moments in Cullen history.
2001
CULLEN PACKAGING MOVE INTO MOULDED PULP
In 2001, Cullen purchased “Universal Pulp Packaging”, entering the moulded pulp market.
1995
RELOCATION TO ANNIESLAND
In 1995, due to a steady increase in revenue, Cullen relocated to a purpose-built site in Anniesland, north-west Glasgow, where the business operates today. The move was driven by the expansion possibilities for the growing company.
1986
THE START OF ‘CULLEN PACKAGING’
IIn 1986, Robert Cullen & Sons was purchased by a consortium of local businessmen. At that time the company had a staff roll of 5 and a turnover of £200,000. The company was rebranded to ‘Cullen Packaging’ and in due course moved to a purpose-built site in Yorkhill, Glasgow’s west-end. This was to increase its capacity to manufacture corrugated packaging.
1976
ROBERT CULLEN PASSES AWAY
In 1976, after decades of steady growth, company-owner Robert Cullen passed away. Ownership of the business was transferred to his wife and sons who continued trading using the same values it was built upon – family.
1921
‘ROBERT CULLEN & SONS’ FOUNDED
In 1921, ‘Robert Cullen & Sons’, local specialists in high-quality packaging for whisky brands, was founded by Mr. Robert Cullen.
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Our Commitment To Sustainable Packaging For Over 100 Years
LEADING THE CHANGE TO SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING FOR OVER 100 YEARS
Moulded Fibre and Corrugate - the solution to single-use plastic waste
Committed to continually investing in the latest Moulded Fibre and Corrugate technology
Replacing Single-Use Plastics With Sustainable Innovation
The world produces roughly 300 million tons of plastic each year and half of it is disposable, with 40% of total plastic use being attributed to packaging. Our vision is to replace single-use plastic packaging and corrugate and moulded fibre is a viable and proven solution.
We are Europe’s only combined manufacturer of corrugated and moulded fibre packaging and driven by passion and fuelled by 100 years of paper packaging manufacturing experience, innovation is at the heart of everything we do.
Our existing product range exceeds over 3000 paper based, recyclable and compostable alternatives to single use plastic, for just about every sector. What makes us unique is our in-house engineering and design capabilities. We make more than sustainable products, we design and build our own bespoke machines and tooling, meaning we have the packaging solutions for today and the capabilities to create the bespoke solutions for the future.
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