WHILE people everywhere are jumping up and down about the euro, a Malvern company is laughing all the way to the bank.

Automated Packaging Systems is busy producing more than six million plastic bags to be used for euro starter kits in Belgium.

The order came directly from the National Bank of Belgium and is worth around £100,000.

Presently, Automated Packaging Systems is only producing for one country but there is the possibility it could lead to more orders for the firm, which is based on Malvern's Enigma Business Park.

Starter kits

"We do a lot of these kinds of bags for foreign exchange bureaux such as Travelex, so it would be nice if we could do some more for other countries - we're always hopeful of more money," said Nick Long, autobag product manager at the company.

"But the main purpose seems to be for starter kits at this point, so we'll see," he added.

Work started on the polyethylene bags more than 12 months ago in order to give the Belgian banks time to fill them with the new notes and coins. So far six million bags have been used and the machines are still rolling.

The Malvern site is the European head office of the US-owned Automated Packaging Systems Incorporated, which also has offices in Germany and Belgium.

It was the Belgian office that helped secure the money bag order after it sold two packaging systems to the National Bank of Belgium.

Automated Packaging Systems in Malvern employs 95 people and was first established in Ledbury 18 years ago.

In 1998, the firm invested £800,000 in a new printing press at the purpose-built factory allowing it to print designs and information on the bags, which resulted in better quality control and reduced delivery times.

A lot of the bags are used for small automotive components and customers include such well-known names as Rolls Royce, Volvo and Ford, as well as Microsoft and Sony.

On the topic of the euro itself, Mr Long believes there are arguments for and against its introduction in Britain, but believes that in the long-term it is inevitable.

"It should be good for exports but not so good for interest rates as Britain won't be independent," he said.

"I adhere to both arguments but I think once people have travelled to Europe and seen how easy it is, the new currency will win people over."