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An Ystrad Mynach-based manufacturing company has gone global after announcing plans to open a new factory in Italy.

Transcend Packaging, best known for producing paper straws for global chains such as McDonald’s and Starbucks, among others, will be able to produce two billion paper straws at its new site.

New European Union legislation will see single-use plastics, such as plastic straws and cutlery, banned from July next year.

Transcend’s new Italian factory is based in the northern town of Ala, near Verona.

Transcend, which was established in 2017, will team up with packaging firm ICIS Group to operate the new factory.

Lorenzo Angelucci, CEO of Transcend, said: “European businesses are in a race against time to meet the new regulations on single-use plastics and replace their plastic straws. It is our ambition to support as many businesses as possible in their transition to paper straws in time to meet this deadline.

“Partnering with ICIS will expand our reach even further, and our customers are prepared to reap the benefits of our new partnership and production capabilities.”

He added: “With Brexit approaching, we want to reassure our partners of the strength of our supply chain across Europe. The part of Italy we’re expanding to offers easy access to Northern Europe, specifically Germany and Austria, so the location offers excellent trade links.”

Mr Angelucci reiterated that the new factory in Italy will not have a negative affect on the site in Ystrad Mynach.

He said: “After two full years of trading, we’re absolutely delighted that we now employ over 200 people in the Caerphilly area and look forward toward continued growth in the years ahead.

“The new production facility in Italy will not be taking business from our Welsh site – on the contrary.

“Our new factory will be used as leverage to help us secure additional clients across Europe, some of which require a more localised supply chain, so that we can continue expanding our business in Wales and creating job opportunities in our local area.”

During the coronavirus pandemic, Transcend switched its focus towards producing personal protective equipment (PPE), supplying face visors to the NHS and the UK Department of Health.

The company has also been exporting PPE across the UK, Europe, the United States and Japan.

In September 2020, the company nearly doubled its permanent workforce, currently employing 127 people.