Custom components Plastek UK

CusTom ComPonEnTs

Plastek UK Ltd (Europe) is a leading manufacturer of custom injection and blow moulded components for the packaging industry, offering creative packaging solutions to multinational FMCG businesses in the personal care, household, food and beverage, healthcare and cosmetics markets. The company is now looking at further expanding its international footing, as European Vice-President Mick Shaw confirmed.

Based in Mansfield, north Nottinghamshire, Plastek UK Ltd (Europe) is a division of the USA based Plastek Group, a renowned global manufacturer within the plastic packaging industry. Apart from the 155,000m2 manufacturing facility in the UK, the group currently operates moulding facilities in the United States, Mexico and Brazil and is looking at increasing its capacity.

Functionality and differentiation

As a highly experienced and technically advanced injection moulding specialist, Plastek can offer its customers expertise in the design and development of innovative packaging solutions using a large range of injection and injection blow moulding techniques. The group’s customer base includes all blue chip companies, such as Unilever, Danone, P&G, Nestle, Reckitt Benkiser and other major brand names.

“We have always specialised in complex, multi-function mouldings which suited our highly-automated plant. We have also invested in Advanced Clean Room Manufacturing to ISO class 7, and are now installing graded segregation of production to serve the most exacting needs which will help us gear up for the pharmaceuticals and medical production,” says Mr Shaw.

Plastek’s speciality lies in value added packaging components which offer enhanced functionality and differentiation, including actuators and

spray caps, laundry caps, cosmetics tottles, and infant nutrition packaging. The innovative development of products, processes as well as people is an integral part of the company’s culture.

“We offer the flexibility and the corporate will to meet the needs of international consumer brands, and have even moved entire production cells from one continent to another in order to accommodate the needs of our customers. We use the latest in-moulding technology, including ultra thin wall and 2-shot moulding, and keep up to speed with all new moulding innovations,” says Mr Shaw.

Responding to market needs

“Our R&D teams work on several projects, including looking at using PCR resins for several current customers. However, at this stage we are unable to disclose any further details due to confidentiality. What I can say, though, is that our R&D teams are also working closely with customers regarding recyclability and sustainability, the big topics of today.”

He pointed out that the company is also addressing another major trend – the call for reduced amounts of packaging. “We are working with our partners in the consumer goods sector to investigate biodegradable plastics. From a business point of view, we are looking at shifting into multi-use low-volume, high-value products in the medical and pharmaceuticals sectors.”

One of Plastek’s key competitive advantages is its ability to provide services that deliver quality, volume and speed – factors that help the company to stay ahead of other, including Asian, manufacturers. “There is no doubt that we outstrip them on quality,” says Mr Shaw, “Our training, automation and process controls are all aimed at superb levels of conformity which others find hard to match. We are constantly striving to be the best and work tirelessly to achieve all the industry leading standards and accreditations to ensure we are competitive.

“We work very lean in all our organisations around the globe with a big emphasis on customer relations and support, and undergo several customer audits each year which ensures we always maintain the highest standards.”

New horizons

The group continues to develop in partnership with its customers, and is ready to locate manufacturing units to meet their needs. “We ship to

destinations all across the globe, from Mexico and Argentina, through Australia and India to the UK and the whole of Europe, on a daily basis,” says Mr Shaw.

He further explains that Plastek is ready to continue its growth, and to exploit emerging new opportunities. “As I mentioned earlier, we plan to expand into the medical and pharmaceuticals markets. To this end, we have brought on board a new Business Development Manager, who has vast experience in the medical & pharma industries. Also, we have recently achieved ISO 13485:2016 Medical Devices accreditation, which will hopefully help us to develop further in these new areas.”

In terms of geographical coverage, Plastek is looking to grow through acquisitions in the UK and Europe. “We would definitely like to achieve a wider international footprint and are now assessing several potential ways forward. Given Plastek’s reputation, track record and innovative focus, I believe it is a realistic goal. Keeping pace with the technology and investing in people will help us enjoy continued success,” concludes Mr Shaw. n