Fifteen years since we opened our doors at Parkside Asia, we have been on a remarkable journey. Established in 2010 as part of Parkside’s strategic expansion into the Asian region, today we’re firmly established as a thriving, autonomous leader in the flexible packaging industry.
The last 15 years have seen us go from strength to strength. From our state-of-the-art facility in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, we offer a diverse portfolio of flexible packaging solutions for the global food, personal and household care, and tobacco markets. Our commitment to quality has seen us successfully achieve ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and BRCGS certifications, reaffirming our commitment to excellence, sustainability, workplace safety, and food safety standards. These certifications reflect our unwavering commitment to delivering the highest standards for our customers, employees, and stakeholders.
In part, this success is a result of our cutting-edge manufacturing equipment, including 10-colour flexographic printing, high-tech slitting and lamination, on-site reprographics and colour management services. However, throughout our 15-year history, one thing has remained constant – the fact that our team is central to our success.
The power of teamwork
The spirit of teamwork drives everything we do at Parkside Asia. From collaborating on key customer projects, to coming together to overcome emerging challenges, our team have proven themselves time and time again to be the foundation of our leading position in the packaging industry. It can sometimes be a cliche to say that a workplace environment feels like a family, but in our case it’s certainly true – as our Operations Manager Mark McCain reflects:
“One aspect that struck me early on was the family culture among the Malaysian people. When necessary, they come together to tackle challenges and take pride in their collective efforts. I take great pride in my association with Parkside, having witnessed the team’s growth and unwavering spirit to move forward. Whatever challenges arise, the team consistently finds a way to achieve the right outcomes, demonstrating boundless dedication.”
This cohesion has resulted in an effective, talented group of people who are driving the business to new heights. Most of our top management positions are now held by people who have grown and developed within the company, and thanks to their close bonds, the team can quickly overcome any challenge that emerges.
These bonds proved instrumental when the COVID-19 pandemic struck Malaysia in 2020. A complete lockdown resulted in most businesses being closed, but remarkably, the Parkside Asia teams quickly worked together to find solutions and we were able to reopen in a safe, legally compliant way after being closed for just three days.
In 2022, another crisis struck the country when severe flooding hit many states in Malaysia, and once again, the team rallied to support everyone within the business. Dedicated teams were established to assist Parkside families, helping with post-flood cleanup and providing support to restore a sense of normalcy.
General Manager Paul Vaughan adds:
“I constantly get feedback from my team in Kuala Lumpur that the company is like ‘family’. I’m always impressed by the care and concern our people have for each other. I have a tremendous respect for my team, and they continue to impress me with their ‘can do’ attitude. We are definitely a tight knit unit, and I look forward to the next fifteen years.”
Looking ahead – the next 15 years
Looking toward the future, we plan to build on our successes and continue supporting our customers with the high-quality packaging they need. We will keep developing our expertise in more eco-conscious packaging solutions, and our commitment to the environment remains as strong as ever. Crucially, we will continue to invest in our people, supporting them to grow and nurturing the next generation of talent in the flexible packaging industry.
As we celebrate this milestone, Paul Vaughan shares his vision for the future:
“As colleagues reflect on the past fifteen years, I think more to the future of the next fifteen and beyond, wondering where we will be and how will we develop products to be better for our customers and the planet. More than that, I also wonder how we can further develop our team of bright, enthusiastic and talented people to become better every day. It would be amazing if we could achieve the same growth in the next fifteen as we did in the first fifteen.
“To our customers – thank you for being part of this journey with us. To our team – thank you for your unwavering dedication and passion. Together, we have built something truly special over these 15 years, and we look forward to many more as we continue driving innovation in flexible packaging.”
