ID Machinery Hitting 50 years -
A look back

ID Machinery is well known throughout the corrugated industry, thanks to a desire to serve its customer base and offer solutions and equipment that would benefit box plants throughout the UK and further afield. Initially started with a £100 loan from his mother, Ian Dothie began trading used machinery from above a shop in late 1971; but the business grew quickly and by 1974, the company moved in to a 5,000 sq ft factory. With this additional space, ID Machinery were able to offer reconditioning of converting machinery and this became the mainstay of the business for many years.

Branching into New In 1980, further expansion was undertaken by opening ID (Northern) in Salford, from where new die-cutting machinery was manufactured under the newly established Midas brand. “We selected the name Midas,” recalls Dothie. “It was borne from the legend of the King Midas story of ‘everything you touch turns to gold’. Luckily, it went well and we received 35 orders over the years.”

The success with the new Midas semi automatic die-cutter led the company to explore supplying new machinery further and, after Brian Harris joined as Sales Director from Kirby machinery in 1982, ID Machinery secured an agreement with TCY of Taiwan to represent, supply and support of their flexo converting machinery range. This partnership led to installations in UK, USA, most European countries, along with South Africa and the Middle East. The partnership flourished over the following 25 years and led to over 200 installations.

During the same time, ID Machinery also began a joint venture in Milan, Italy, with the former owner of Gandossi and Fossati, to support both the popular Lampomatic stitching machine along with new automatic gluers manufactured there.

The new machinery dove-tailed nicely with the used equipment business, as part exchange was offered as standard. To cope with the level of sales, the engineering team was increased and in 1985, a 20,000 sq ft purpose built factory was completed in Milton Keynes with an internal 20 ton crane, machine shop and dedicated transport.

Geographic Expansion

Pushing further afield, ID then opened in America, to service the US market, beginning in New Jersey, then to Waco, Texas and ultimately a 10,000 sq ft factory in Atlanta, Georgia.

With both the technical knowledge and the engineering support, ID expanded its portfolio further to include the design and build of a greenfield site in the Middle East including the installation of high-speed corrugator with starch plant, waste system and all converting machinery.

New Blood In 1989, John Brasier joined the company as a sales executive and over the next few years, further developed the new machinery sales alongside the used and rebuilt business.

Relationships were formed with numerous suppliers to cover the full spectrum of converting machinery and to this day, ID Machinery are able to supply flexo converting lines from JC, die-cutting from Century, strapping from Transpak, digital printers from Wonderjet, boxmakers from JG, digital cutting tables from SJ, laminators from JS, stitching, gluing and flexo under the Midas range, as well as tape application from CSM.

A Move to Portugal

During the early 2000s, the decision was taken to switch the rebuilding side of the business to Portugal and to concentrate on the sales and support of the new machinery from Milton Keynes. In addition to the engineering team in the UK, a separate team was assembled in Portugal for both rebuilding machinery and supporting new sales in the Iberian countries and Europe.

Initially working from a 10,000 sq ft rental factory, this was quickly outgrown, so the decision was taken to build a 20,000 sq ft specialist factory, based on the UK model with two internal cranes, machining and paint shop, electrical department and fully equipped service vehicles. A separate 40,000 sq ft storage
facility houses the used stock prior to rebuilding.

COVID Impact

Like all businesses during the pandemic, ID were also heavily impacted, however, fortunately not to the detriment. With the corrugated industry seeing an upturn in demand, new and used machine sales increased dramatically. But with a combined workforce approaching 40 specialist technicians and
electricians, ID are were able to support this and maintain ongoing service contracts, specialised moves and relocations that were required. Brasier explains, “During the outbreak of the pandemic, Ian and I agreed that it would be safer for him to take a step back from the day to day operation of the business and at the end of 2020, he took the decision to retire. After 50 years at the helm, I think it’s only fair he can finally sit back and relax. With a sold management team in place with husband and wife partnership Adam (General Manager) and Sarah Farr (Commercial Manager), Henrique Rodrigues as General
Manager ID Europe, along with the next generation of the family in my daughter, Chloe, in Sales and Marketing executive, we look forward a prosperous future.”