THE British based group Macfarlane (Clansman), which owns Wicklow Custom Packaging, has reported a 30 per cent rise in pre tax profits to £21.2 million sterling for 1995. Earnings per share rose by 31 per cent to 12.03p. The Wicklow operation "completed a very successful first full year" within the group's plastic moulding division, the chairman, Lord Macfarlane, told shareholders.

In the current year there will be "a considerable expansion" of the Wicklow production facilities and the sales force is being strengthened, he said.