Harlow-based Gratnells, which makes trays and tray storage systems for schools, hospitals and laboratories, has a line-up of 10 plastic-injection moulding machines, with capacities from 100 to 700 tonnes.

Nine of these are Sandretto machines (now rebranded Romi www.romiuk.com), the latest being an EN 380.

Moulding shop manager Steve Cadman says: “The quality of Romi machines is good, plus they are much quieter and use less energy.

We also know that we will get sound advice when things go wrong, and we have never had to wait more than a day for an engineer to reach us.”

Most of the trays are made of polypropylene, but a translucent material is also used. Depths of 3, 6, 9 and 12in are standard in Europe, so the product range is relatively simple.

However, the EN 380 has to run unmanned overnight with the help of robotic systems, which means that it must be entirely reliable.