In today’s brief:

📉 Economic Pressure: New analysis from Make UK warns that manufacturers face a nearly £1 billion surge in business rates this month. With three-quarters of firms citing rates as a top-five cost, the "triple whammy" of taxes, energy, and employment costs is putting an estimated 25,000 jobs at risk.

⚙️ Ancillary Innovation: Labotek GB prepares to debut the Getecha RS 150 at Interplas 2026. The compact, hopper-fed granulator is designed for space-restricted environments, offering high-quality regrind for demanding materials like TPE and POM with a focus on low energy consumption.

🏭 Leadership Update: County Durham’s LPC Elements appoints Richard Morris as General Manager. Bringing extensive P&L and operational experience, Morris will oversee the UK’s only Northern-based manufacturer of heater bands and cartridge heaters as they maintain their perfect ISO 9001 record.

👥 Technical Talent: Sierra 57 Consult expands its polymer engineering team with the appointment of Ben Maguire. As a specialist consultant and experienced injection moulding technician, Maguire will support the industry through technical recruitment, mould contracting, and practical training.

For the full stories, visit plastikmedia.co.uk.

In today’s brief:

⚙️ Machinery Milestone: FANUC UK prepares to showcase the new ROBOSHOT S350C at Interplas 2026. With a focus on energy efficiency and AI-driven precision, the company is also introducing a landmark 8-year commercial guarantee to support UK processors.

🏆 Platinum Performance: Great Central Plastics achieves the highest tier of recognition in the 2025 Dennis Eagle Supplier Awards. The achievement highlights the growing importance of consistency and collaborative partnerships in the UK injection moulding supply chain.

📈 Compliance Data: New figures from the Environment Agency show a 46% increase in plastic PRN carry-forward into 2026. While steel and wood see a decline, the surplus in plastic credits suggests the PRN system is successfully driving material separation and cleaning.

🔬 Sustainable Innovation: A global research consortium secures $7 million to develop "infinitely recyclable" bioplastics. By using enzymes to process agricultural waste, the breakthrough aims to solve heat-resistance issues in biodegradable polymers for medical and packaging use.

For the full stories, visit plastikmedia.co.uk.

In today’s brief:

🍴 Food Contact Update: The FSA confirms the UK will align with EU restrictions on Polycarbonate. Material distributor Plastribution outlines the expected transition timelines for single-use and professional equipment.

♻️ Corby Expansion: Reconomy’s new £20m facility is set to become one of the UK’s largest recycling plants, processing 38,000 tonnes of plastic annually to boost domestic capacity.

⚓ Supply Chain Strategy: As global logistics volatility and energy costs continue to bite, UK moulders are urged to de-risk by reshoring toolmaking and investing in energy-efficient automation.

🇮🇪 IPG 2026: The flagship polymer conference confirms its return to Athlone this April, bringing together engineers and innovators to discuss the future of sustainable manufacturing.

For the full stories, visit plastikmedia.co.uk. Happy Easter to all our listeners!