A Northamptonshire manufacturer of sustainable storage and packaging solutions is expanding its global footprint after securing £1.6 million in government-backed funding.
Wellingborough-based Pallite Group has gained new export opportunities across Europe, the US, Asia, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand, resulting in a need for additional working capital to keep pace with growing international demand. The company has now secured a £1.6m corporate facility from KBC Bank, supported by UK Export Finance’s (UKEF) General Export Facility (GEF).
The new financing has enabled Pallite to refinance existing loans, scale production and invest in improved ERP and IT systems to support operations across four continents. The company has already hired two permanent manufacturing employees, bringing its workforce in Wellingborough to 40, and expects to create more jobs in the UK next year.
Based on sustainable engineering principles, Pallite produces lightweight, fully recyclable storage racks, packaging and logistics products made from honeycomb cardboard. Made from more than 85% recycled fibers bonded with PVA glue, the material is durable enough to replace traditional wood and plastic systems while reducing environmental impact.
The company’s innovations have received international recognition, including the UK Warehousing Association’s Environment Award in 2022, the King’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation in 2023 and the Prix Stratégies Logistique de l’Innovation Durable in France in 2025.
As exports increased and global warehouse operators sought greener solutions, Pallite turned to UKEF after consulting with KBC Bank. Jo Archer, UKEF’s Export Finance Manager for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, helped identify the GEF route and enabled KBC to free up flexible working capital.
“Pallite is an example of the pioneering spirit and ambition we see in UK SMEs,” said Archer. “Through our general export facility, we have helped them access the finance they need to meet international demand and support local jobs.”
Robert Audas, chairman of Pallite, said the facility had been “vital” to its global expansion plans. “This funding will allow us to invest in new markets, strengthen our operations globally and continue to support innovation and employment here in the UK,” he said.
KBC Bank Relationship Director Richard Whitehead added that the partnership with UKEF allows the bank to offer more flexible working capital solutions. “We look forward to helping even more SMEs succeed on the world stage,” he said.
UKEF provided record £14.5 billion in funding last year, supporting more than 667 UK exporters and helping to sustain up to 70,000 jobs across the country.
