GRP moulding specialist Ex-Press Plastics (8 Beccles Road, Loddon, Norwich, GB - Norfolk NR14 6JL) has been acquired from the Low & Bonar Group in a management buy-out. The purchase has been made by managing director Simon King and financial director Adrian Whittaker, assisted by a venture capitalist and bank loans. The two executives had been thwarted by a late bid from Low & Bonar when attempting a previous buy-out in 1995 when the original owners retired.

Since signing the deal in late September, Ex-Press has added 40 staff, bringing the total workforce to 130, and has started the building of an additional 1,000 square metres of manufacturing capacity. The new jobs have been created on the back of a healthy order book, with work starting for a number of new customers over the next 3-6 months.

Founded in 1965, Ex-Press Plastics uses a variety of GRP processing techniques, including cold press moulding, low-pressure hot press moulding, resin injection, resin casting and low-pressure phenolic moulding. Its business is almost exclusively with the car and truck markets and a turnover of GBP 7.5-8.0m is expected next year.

Ex-Press Plastics has also developed an innovative manufacturing process, termed Smoothtex, for PP/glass composites having a glass content of up to 60%. The process is an adaptation of GRP´s vacuum bag moulding, although it has similarities with the slush moulding of PVC. The first application is the engine cover for the new Clio V6, although automotive front-end components is the main target market.