Member Article

Signal Plastics makes million pound Washington move

Signal Plastics has invested more than £1m in fitting out a new plant and office space in Washington, expanding to a site more than five times the size of its previous premises on Crowther Industrial Estate.

Moving to the two storey, 42,700 sq ft plant on Bentall Business Park, the plastics manufacturing firm says it needed a much larger space to house its operations.

The ground floor of the new facility will accommodate the business’ manufacturing plant and the first floor will be the new base for staff and management of parent company, Omega Plastics Group.

As well as relocating Signal Plastics, the Omega Plastics Group retains its production facilities in Blyth, Northumberland and Hartlepool on Teesside.

The firm’s 41 employees will be based at Bentall Business Park and the site will also provide hot desks for team members visiting from Blyth and Hartlepool.

One of the biggest pieces of machinery to be installed at the site is a new £400k 1,300 tonne injection moulding press and overhead robotic equipment.

Signal Plastics’ investment at Washington also includes 800 tonne, 500 tonne and 180 tonne machines and there are plans for further investment in additional new machinery in 2017.

Alan Franklin, managing director at Signal Plastics, said: “We’ve seen significant growth in demand for our high volume automotive moulding range and we needed more space in which to accommodate new plant and machinery.

“At almost five times the size of our previous site, the unit at Bentall Business Park fits the bill perfectly and by remaining in Washington we’ve been able to ensure a smooth transition for our supply chain partners and employees.

“It also helps being able to house all of our parent company’s staff and management under the same roof so this really is the ideal location for us.”