RDM Test Equipment expands industrial capacity with a new manufacturing facility in Essex

The British manufacturer RDM Test Equipment has confirmed the relocation of its primary production hub and corporate offices to a new facility in Saffron Walden, Essex. The move, scheduled for December 1, 2026, represents a significant operational upgrade designed to absorb the sustained revenue growth the company has experienced across its packaging and medical testing divisions.

Scaling production for a demanding market

The new Essex site provides substantially larger storage and manufacturing areas compared to the company's previous base in Elsenham, Hertfordshire. This expansion is a direct structural response to the increasing global demand for precision testing instruments. As the packaging industry accelerates its transition toward novel sustainable materials, lightweight corrugated boards, and complex flexible structures, the requirement for rigorous physical testing has intensified. Converters and brand owners are under pressure to verify seal integrity, barrier properties, and regulatory compliance without compromising production speeds.

Phil Neal, Managing Director at RDM Test Equipment, noted that the relocation is the direct result of sales growth in recent years. He emphasized that the consistent expansion seen across the global flexible packaging and medtech sectors has naturally driven the demand for reliable testing and sealing equipment. The new facility will serve as the manufacturing center for both the core RDM Test Equipment brand and its sister company, RDM MEDeSEAL, which specializes in pharmaceutical and medical packaging testing.

Innovation on the production floor

The capacity increase in Saffron Walden will allow the company to scale the production of its extensive portfolio, which covers testing solutions for paper, carton, corrugated board, and plastic films. RDM has built a strong footprint in the industry by providing equipment for heat seal testing, hot tack, seal strength, and friction measurement.

Beyond traditional laboratory equipment, the company has recently focused on bringing testing capabilities directly to the production floor. A prime example is the recent introduction of the Neptune 803 gas chromatograph for residual solvent testing. By reducing test times from nearly an hour to just seven minutes, this type of equipment allows converters to adjust drying or airflow parameters before non-conforming material reaches the slitting or pouching stages, drastically reducing scrap and rework.

The investment in the Saffron Walden facility positions RDM Test Equipment to better support these rapid development cycles. By expanding its manufacturing footprint, the company secures the necessary infrastructure to maintain its output of industry-standard testing solutions while continuing to engineer new systems that address the evolving quality control challenges of the global packaging supply chain.