Funding builds 'plastics hub' in England

Torquay-based South West Polymer Supplies plans to expand after securing an investment from the Torbay Growth Fund.

The business has now moved into an office at Torquay’s Lymington Road Innovation Centre.

Company founder Mike Thompson has been running the business for three years, alongside a business engagement role at Exeter University.

The company offers expertise in importing plastics machinery, from laboratory scale to full size, material developments for extrusion and injection moulding, and moulding manufacture. It will also work with local companies to develop new materials and testing.

Mike Thompson said: "I want to make Torbay more of a plastics hub. I plan to open a showroom in Torbay which will help marry everyone together. People will be able to come and have trials on the machinery."I've received funding from the Torbay Growth Fund which is brilliant and it will help me to create skilled jobs over the next three years."

The company is currently working with West Suffolk Hospital looking at ways to recycle clinical and non-clinical plastic waste.