Metals injection opens up new markets for plastics company.
As 2009 winners of the Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade, Sheffield plastics manufacturing company William Beckett Plastics, continues to recognise the critical importance of investment in innovation for their survival.Two years ago, they secured substantial funding through the Objective 1 Invest for Growth European fund and from the South Yorkshire Investment Fund (SYIF). This enabled them to develop new products from their investment in technologies new to the company and which are now proving crucial in helping them survive the recession.
However, the market they currently serve is to a great degree dependent upon the automotive industry, which is currently suffering more than most. In anticipation of this and recognising the importance of entering new markets, the company identified the potential of working with Sheffield University and using its expertise at the Innovative Metal Processing Centre based on the AMRC as a way of investing in the future of Metal Injection Moulding. To this end, the company has just signed up for a 27 month Knowledge Transfer Partnership programme with the University and which it expects will lead to openings in the sectors of medical, aerospace, and specialist engineering fields, in which it has no presence currently.
The company is very optimistic that in marrying its plastic injection moulding skills and facilities with the University's expertise in metals technology and its facilities at the AMRC, will lead to extremely successful outcomes and the resultant ongoing survivability of the company.
