The four members of the former management team at PolyOne Engineered Materials UK have formed their own company to supply engineering plastics compounds to injection moulding companies and OEMs in the UK. 4Plas (GB-Hinckley - Leicester LE10 0GE) will act as a contracted-out sales and marketing organisation selling a full range of standard materials and specialised compounds, with a major emphasis on technical service, materials development and product and tool design. Most of its materials will be sourced from UK manufacturers, such as PC, PC/ABS and flame retardant ABS from Sytek, but the Italian company Softer will supply PP and TPE compounds. Sources will also include recycled and reformulated compounds from the post- consumer waste chain.

Director Andrew Bastow told Plasteurope.com that all 4Plas´s suppliers will have exclusivity on specific polymer types. Coloured compounds will also form an important part of the company´s portfolio. Sales have already been made for electrical, automotive and construction applications since the business was started in May and Bastow says 4Plas is looking initially to supply 3,000 tonnes of material annually, rising to 5,000 t in the longer term. The company has no intentions of becoming a compounder.