One of the founders of Advanced Dynamics Ltd, Mike Essler, is retiring after spending nearly four decades in the packaging industry.

Mr Essler started his career with WLT Ltd which originally had been established as a textile supplier, but in 1980 when Mr Essler joined to run it, the company switched to the distribution of specialist anti-static equipment from Dutch supplier SIMCO, then a year later became the distributor for Packmat, specialist manufacturers of Greeting Card Wrapping Machines for which it is now well known.

A stalwart of numerous packaging exhibitions, including the annual PPMA show, in 2005 Mr Essler with Malcolm Little merged WLT with Crusader Europe to co-found Advanced Dynamics, which the duo have subsequently run.

Since the inception of Advanced Dynamics, Essler and Little have significantly expanded the firm and turned it into one of the UK’s leading specialist suppliers of labelling, wrapping, feeding, counting and sleeving solutions to the food, drinks, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, toiletries and print related sectors.

Reflecting on the great changes that have taken place in the packaging sector over the last few decades, Mr Essler says the biggest impact has been the incorporation of electronics and servo systems which can control functions, labour and even build costs, thanks to far greater integration and automation.

“These days customers are far more informed thanks to the internet and often know what they require before a meeting has even taken place, which is a far cry from the 1980s when potential customers turned up with a box of bits often in the vain hope you might be able to help them,” he said.

Mr Essler is credited at Advanced Dynamics with helping to build the customer base and strengthen the machinery base, particularly for Wrapping and Feeding machines. With the help and specialist knowledge of Mr Little the company has expanded into a leading supplier of labelling systems encompassing bespoke and standard equipment, for countless different markets.

Married with two grown up children and four grandchildren, Mr Essler formally retired on 22nd December 2016 and will be using his new found time to travel further afield with his wife Pam, taking up new hobbies and finally getting down to the projects that he has not been able to concentrate on before.

Summarising, Mr Essler said: “I have had a fantastic time at Advanced Dynamics and its predecessor and I know that the company can look forward to the future with confidence because the firm has a great group of people under the excellent leadership of Malcolm Little.”

Responding, Mr Little said: “Mike will be sorely missed because of his technical knowledge and his ability to keep his head even when the seas get choppy. However, we will be staying in contact and I know that I speak for everyone at Advanced Dynamics in wishing him well in his retirement.”