Left to right: Simon Anderson, head of Clarity Plastics, with Matt Harwood, director of business growth A newly formed manufacturing group is targeting international expansion and new jobs after acquiring two distressed plastics companies out of administration.
Clarity Plastics Ltd, which is led by experienced entrepreneur Kevin Robinson, is looking to transform the fortunes of specialist injection moulders Barkley Plastics and LVS through a combination of investment in the two facilities in Birmingham and Telford, process optimisation and putting ‘people’ first. The companies, which will be collectively rebranded to Clarity Plastics, employs 45 people and has over 110 clients from across the automotive, medical and construction products sectors.
Mr Robinson said: “For the last year 60 years, the two businesses have been established and respected names in the plastics market and we were determined not to lose this technical excellence forever. With similar machine sizes, capabilities and management systems, the two sites are naturally well-aligned. This creates an excellent opportunity for both to support and learn from each other, strengthening operational resilience whilst also expanding capacity and targeting new opportunities.”
He continued: “By combining their heritage with a forward-looking strategy, Clarity Plastics is positioning itself as a major player in the UK moulding industry, and in short, the two sites together will be much stronger than they ever were apart.”
60 years of manufacturing heritageThe recent acquisition and renaming of Barkley Plastics to Clarity Plastics preserves 60 years of manufacturing heritage in the West Midlands. More than 10 people were retained during the administration, with more brought back since the acquisition, and plans are in place to actively recruit at its Highgate facility, where it supplies interior trim and specialist lighting products to Nissan, JLR and several supercar manufacturers.
More than £500,000 will be invested across both sites to optimise factory layouts, modernise facilities for team members and to implement automation and tailored training and personal development plans. Simon Anderson, who has been appointed as head of Clarity Plastics, said: “The vision is for both sites to be thriving, profitable businesses with full order books and growing workforces by this time next year. Success will mean that customers have complete confidence in us as a stable, forward-looking supplier.
“Both deals were ‘people first’ acquisitions, and we have spent a lot of time talking to the team and reassuring them that we will deliver secure employment and a host of new benefits, including employee of the month schemes and access to the ‘Perks at Work’ platform.”
Matt Harwood, whose family had been involved in Barkley Plastics for more than six decades, has been retained and will take on the role of director of business growth, focusing on developing new markets and opportunities. He will be joined by highly experienced manufacturing specialist Steve Smith, who has been appointed as the new director of operations.
Mr Harwood concluded: “Safeguarding jobs was our immediate priority, and now our focus is on rebuilding capacity and creating new employment opportunities as growth returns. We see significant opportunities in export markets, particularly in Europe, where British injection moulding is highly regarded, and increasing international activity will be an important marker of our progress. There are over 50 moulding machines running 24hr a day, five days a week, so there is plenty of capacity to take on new business.”