Plastic moulding manufacturer builds on 50 years of success

A Rochdale-based manufacturer of plastic mouldings is expanding its operations with a unique new processing line as it gears up to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Founded in 1977, Taylor Engineering & Plastics (TEP) makes custom plastic components for customers across a wide range of industries including construction, agriculture, medical and vending. Its 180-strong team moulds, paints and assembles technical parts that are then used by a wide range of manufacturing customers in the building of their machinery, equipment and vehicles.

The business is now using an initial £2.1 million trade finance package from Lloyds to invest in two new 1,200-tonne moulding presses that will add a new process - sheet moulding compound (SMC) - to TEP’s manufacturing capabilities. This will enable the business to produce a wider range of technical components that are needed for machinery and products with more demanding specifications. It will also become one of the only firms like it in Europe to include SMC as part of its overall services, improving its ability to attract new customers with a unique offering.

Both machines are set to be up and running by the start of next year, which will mark the company’s 50th anniversary. Once installed, TEP is expecting the new moulding processes to enhance its capability to existing customers, create access to new market sectors and help generate new jobs within the business.

Efficiency and repeatability
This marks the second major investment the business has made in as many years. In 2025, it installed a new 2,200-tonne injection moulding machine valued at over £1 million to improve its ability and capacity to produce further technical components for demanding jobs. It is also fully automated to ensure efficiency and repeatability across the various ranges of volumes associated with each product. It also follows the news that more than £3.5 billion of new finance can be available to businesses across the North West in 2026, as part of Lloyds Banking Group’s plan to make more than £35 billion of new finance available to companies operating and investing across the UK in 2026.

Scott Taylor, managing director at TEP, said: “This is a landmark investment for us as a business and a major step forward in growing our manufacturing capability; it is only fitting that it’s set to coincide with our 50th anniversary. Adding this new processing line to our operations will open a wealth of new opportunities for both us and our customers. From the conversations we are already having with them, they’re just as excited about this latest investment as we are, and I am grateful to the support from the team at Lloyds in helping us to achieve this.”

Ria Kelsall, relationship director at Lloyds, concluded: “TEP is a firm with a rich industrial history, but it’s also one that is always looking ahead to how it can remain at the cutting edge. With this latest investment, it’s giving itself the potential to expand an already varied customer base thanks to its unique offering. This will help to unlock future growth opportunities for the business, and I look forward to seeing how it builds on this in the coming years.”