Headquarters site clocks up half-century
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Smithers Rapra product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jan 17, 2005
Rapra Technology celebrated 50 years of business at its Shawbury, Shropshire headquarters at the end of last year.
Rapra Technology, Europe's leading independent polymer research and technology centre, celebrated 50 years of business at its Shawbury, Shropshire headquarters at the end of last year.
Based originally in Croydon, the company, which at that time served only the rubber industry, moved into its Shawbury premises in November 1954.
The reason behind the move was to bring the organisation physically closer to its industrial membership base of the time (predominantly based in the Midlands and North West areas).
The new premises were officially opened by the Duke of Edinburgh.
Plastics were added to the organisation's span of activity from 1960, when they became the Rubber and Plastics Research Association (known even then by most clients as Rapra).
Most recently, in July 2002, the company was the subject of a management buyout.
Says Andrew Ward, Managing Director: "It is particularly pleasing to be able to celebrate a golden jubilee at the end of 2004 with an investment fund of over GBP 1 million and a plan to create 50 new jobs in the business over the next five years".
Recruitment at Rapra is already under way in line with the company's new business plan and in the areas of environmental and recycling services; medical and pharmaceutical services; large research projects (UK-based, European and International); regional support programmes in the UK and across Europe; product design services; ad-hoc product testing services and information-based non-research-funded/dissemination projects.
Ward points out: "This new investment in growth activities and markets is intended to increase our current turnover by over 50% within the next five years".
"We know that this is an ambitious strategy but one that we feel is entirely sustainable and possible, given the skills of our people and the demand for their services".
"50 years at this site is a real landmark", says Ward, "and happens at an ideal time for innovative polymer businesses and partners in the industry to approach us with new ideas and projects".
"Our doors are always open to new ideas, outsourced projects and programmes and joint research ventures".
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