Page 26 - Plastics News November 2019

CompAny news

Novolex wins plastics association German wheelie bin maker

safety company of the year opens second UK plant

h e Pla st ics I n du st ry erman plastics manufacturer Craemer Group has
TA s s o ciatio n has j us t Gstarted production at a €27.5m injection moulding
announced the winners of facility in Hortonwood West in Telford, UK. The £25
the Safety Statistics and million site for plastics injection moulding will be
Awards (SSA) Program. The used to produce wheelie bins, pallets and storage and
SSA Program, organised by The transport containers. This will include new products
Plastics Industry Association for Craemer UK’s portfolio, including a range of four-
(Plastics), is a way for the wheeled commercial waste bins and pallet boxes,
plastics industry to recognise which until recently could only be manufactured at
worksites, safety professionals the Group’s German headquarters. Craemer UK’s
and safety cultures, with awards given on three levels: expansion will create up to 70 new jobs in Telford
gold, silver and bronze. Novolex, in Hartsville, won the and safeguard the 65 existing positions at the original
inaugural Safety Company of the Year award. Auxiliary Telford facility. Steve Poppitt, managing director of
equipment maker ACS Group in New Berlin, was named
winner in the equipment category for the site-based
Leaders of Safety Award, while Atlanta-based Printpack's
facility in Bloomington, won in the processor category.
This year, the SSA Program awarded 121 facilities with
notable safety records for gold, silver and bronze level
awards. Special for this year's edition was that Plastics
also launched four new award categories that recognise
individuals, facilities and companies demonstrating
leadership, results and a commitment to shaping the
safety culture within their facilities and companies.
The new categories awarded are namely, Rising Safety
Professional, Safety Professional of the Year, Leaders of Craemer UK, said: “Since the launch of our first Telford
Safety Award and Safety Company of the Year. The winners plant at Hortonwood in 2006, Craemer UK has grown
of the new categories, Plastics says, were presented to significantly with turnover surging from five million in
Ivan Marquez, Regional EHS Manager at Novolex as Rising 2006 to around £27.8 million in 2018.” The 5.3 hectare
Safety Professional. The Safety Professional of the Year site at Hortonwood West is less than a mile from the
was given to Matt Carter, Director of Health and Safety, original plant. The land was purchased in 2017 and the
also at Novolex. The Leaders of Safety Award (site- company says it offer “ample room for expansion”.
based) was presented to two companies: ACS Group, The new production plant covers about half of the
land, consisting of a 6,000-square-metre production
New Berlin, WI (Equipment) and Printpack, Bloomington, and storage hall, plus adjacent technical, office and
IN (Processor). And, Novolex won the Safety Company social area as well as outdoor facilities. Three injection
of the Year award. Novolex™ is one of North America’s moulding machines have begun production, with more
leaders in packaging choice and sustainability; serving to join them. Mr Poppitt added: “The expansion has
retail, grocery, food service, hospitality, institutional already generating over 30 new jobs at Telford as a
and industrial markets. Novolex’s™ packaging brands are direct result of Site B development and there will be
leaders in the markets they serve due to their innovation, more by the end of this year.” “In addition to creating
diversity of products, and dedication to sustainability and new jobs and to further supporting the local economy,
quality embraced by the nearly 10,000 Novolex™ families. the launch of this second Craemer Telford site also
With the addition of The Waddington Group, Novolex™ emphasises the Germany-based Craemer Group’s
has 60 locations worldwide, including two world class ongoing commitment to its UK manufacturing arm.”
plastic recycling facilities.

Plastics News November 2019 26