Belgrade
Dougie Black, left, and Pat Burke
Belgrade Polymer Products is celebrating its 40th anniversary in the vacuum-forming and injection-moulding industry with investments in plant and personnel as the firm gears up to expand its production capabilities to serve new markets.
The Northamptonshire-based company has invested substantially in its 90,000 ft² Wellingborough facility, including a new extruder and other improvements to its production process and rapid prototyping facilities.
Capable of extruding polypropylene (PP) sheet up to 5mm thick, the new Welex equipment has added greater flexibility to Belgrade’s production capability by creating their ‘raw material’ on site.
Key products are supplied as original equipment to a wide range of industries including automotive, aerospace, building products, cosmetics, fenestration, oil and gas, paint inks and chemicals, photography, plumbing and heating, printing, telecommunications, and water treatment
One example is their LDPE multi-layer BIBA product. ‘Bag In Barrel’ is a strong, pliable inner liner that eliminates contamination risk from rust, condensation and bacteria in 216-litre steel barrels and is manufactured exclusively in the UK by Belgrade Polymer Products. BIBA prevents waste through contamination and overcomes environmental issues associated with disposal of the drums.
Belgrade’s rapid prototyping facility fully embraces the capabilities of their in-house engineering service and can offer clients wooden, resin or aluminium tooling for all types of products.
Two recruits have joined as part of the firm’s growth strategy – Patrick Burke as General Manager and Dougie Black, Business Development Manager. Patrick, who leads the manufacturing and sales development of the business, has held senior management positions within the building products, plastics extrusion and aluminium extrusion market.
Dougie’s responsibilities are to support existing accounts and identify new opportunities across the wide range of industries for which the company manufactures products. His broad experience includes sales and commercial positions with manufacturers and distributors within the auto electronics, building products, chemicals, geotextiles, oil, gas, and renewables markets.
Major investment this year coupled with their 40th anniversary marks a ‘turning point’ for Belgrade, as General Manager Patrick Burke explained: “As a well-established player in the plastics industry since 1976, we are arguably one of its ‘best-kept secrets’, despite supplying some of the biggest brands in a range of diverse sectors.
“Thanks to recent financial investment, we are now aiming to grow the business with enhanced capability to produce an ever-widening variety of products that benefit our clients and suit their bespoke requirements. We’re looking forward to the next 40 years with optimism.”