Washington Envelopes has confirmed its reputation as the most modern envelope manufacturing plant in Europe at the industry's annual awards..

The plant, which has the capacity to produce 50 million envelopes a week, brought home silver and bronze awards in the European Flexographic Technical Association Awards.

The awards recognise excellence in the flexographic printing trade.

Washington Envelopes, on the Hertburn Industrial Estate in Washington, Wearside, specialises in the contract production of envelopes for blue chip organisations, including BT, American Express, Capital One Bank, Experian and Britannia Music.

Over the past year the company has invested more than £5m on a quicker envelope machine, resulting in a 25 per cent increase in capacity. It employs about 130 staff.

Julia Corkhill, sales director, said: "The flexographic print industry is dominated by cardboard and polythene packaging and consumer labelling companies, both of which are massive markets.

"We were the only envelope manufacturer to win an award, which confirms our flexographic print as the best in Europe."