Dugdale pursues growth through 2016
PVC compounder Dugdale is planning a raft of product developments and an expansion of capacity through 2016.
The company’s business in rigid and flexible PVC compounds and high performance PVC compounds and alloys is boosted by the appointment of Stuart Hope to the newly created position of Customer Development Manager.
Hope has academic qualifications in polymer science and brings nearly 25 years working experience of the PVC sector to the role at Dugdale. His most recent work was in technical service to the PVC Stablizers division of Baerlocher UK Ltd. He began his career as a materials technologist with AEI Cables Ltd, responsible for quality matters, certification testing and supervision of plant trials.
Dugdale technical director Dr. Jeff Ryan says that ‘we are delighted that Stuart has joined us; fulfilling a key role in customer service and development and helping establish new markets and new opportunities for Dugdale.’
Ryan adds that ‘we take a pioneering approach to the creation of PVC compounds and alloys – always seeking to give our customers a new and competitive materials edge. Stuart’s in-depth experience of the sector is key to that process. It helps us build a future for all of us - customers and suppliers together.’
Dugdale is a key member of the Vinyls Group of the British Plastics Federation. The sector’s environmental performance is on an upward curve – with a surge in European recycling reported under the Recovinyl scheme. Post-consumer PVC recycling across the EU28 countries stands at over 360,000 tonnes a year – with a commitment to raise this to 800,000 tonnes by the year 2020.
Recent high profile successes for the material include the construction of the London Aquarium and also the London Olympic Village. A total of 142,000 square metres of PVC tensile fabric was used for the 2012 London Olympic Games and more than 63,000 square metres of PVC flooring laid throughout the Olympic Park.
Dugdale Managing Director, Dave Outen says that ‘we see several signs of renewed confidence in our materials within the architectural and building trades and rightly so. This is immensely cheering to ourselves and our customers and gives us confidence and hope to invest in our joint future.’
Dugdale investment in new materials capacity and in new compounding machinery is planned by the end of Q2 2016. Groundwork construction has also begun on a site adjacent to the main factory that will support and equip an additional materials silo.
This current phase of Dugdale expansion will take the company up to the sector’s main event in April 25-27 2017, when the UK’s triennial PVC conference returns to Brighton. The conference is the world’s largest and leading platform for the exchange of information, educational debate and discussion on PVC. Dugdale Ltd is the first Gold sponsor support for the event.
David Outen notes that ‘PVC 2017 provides an unrivalled platform for discussion and debate concerning the drivers within our industry, and on a scale not experienced anywhere else in the world. We are delighted to be preparing for a central role in the event – and in the general development of our industry.’
