BPF Masterbatch and Technical Compounds Group

Article as featured in PRW 25/07/08

The problem-solving potential of the non-partisan BPF Masterbatch and Technical Compounds Group is of greatest benefit in challenging economic times, says Chairman Greg Hammond of Gabriel Chemie:

Someone said once that the only constant is change, and that’s certainly the case for the BPF’s Masterbatch and Technical Compounds Group.  When we first started meeting some two and a half years ago the focus was on agreeing the shared objectives and common ground that we all knew existed in our industry.

Competitive bunch that we are, we nevertheless started feeling our way through the Reach chemicals evaluation and registration programme and, with the help of the BPF’s Sarah Plant, ensured that our member companies were properly prepared for that.  Other areas of early focus were really rather generic, such as credit management and training. But, as the group has matured so the focus of interest has evolved into areas that are far more to do with the promotion of the UK masterbatch industry, both at home and abroad.

Cue our Buyers’ Guide, a tool to promote British masterbatchers to buyers both domestic and foreign, and our Masterbatch Guide, aimed at explaining the usefulness of what we do for designers, students and other important audiences.  These documents are both set to be of real value to the industry and have only been made possible through the non-partisan nature of our group and a genuine belief that much of what’s good for one is good for all.  Not to mention, of course, support from the BPF itself.

It’s become clear over the years that the industry does face common challenges and hurdles and that, in many cases, the main protagonists are at similar stages in resolving these technical issues, such as colour distribution and plastic processing induced adverse effects in finished mouldings. For example, the production of colour/additive combinations designed to not only meet the colour specification but aid in the processing of the product as well. Or practical issues such as cracking specific export markets remain common challenges and can be dealt with effectively from a neutral platform such as our group.

I see our role, above all, as being a universal problem-solving resource for the British masterbatch industry.  As we drive deeper into what economic pundits freely admit is the great unknown of the latest economic downturn, it’s this togetherness and problem-solving potential which provides an extra layer of support for the great competitors of the British masterbatch scene.

Which brings me to membership; we currently have 14 members and are in the market for more.  We are still a relatively new group but have succeeded in building some momentum, as well as a level of trust among what are, after all, fierce competitors.

I would therefore invite anyone in the masterbatch business who believes that he (or she) has something to contribute to the industry as a whole, and who believes that benefits could arise from being involved, to join our group. The more the merrier, because mass equals momentum.  And momentum is a rare and precious thing that we continue to generate for the benefit of UK masterbatchers everywhere.

*The BPF Masterbatch and Technical Compounds Group next meets on 9 October.  Anyone interested in joining the group should contact Sarah Plant at the BPF [020 7457 5000].

BPF Masterbatch and Technical Compounds Group
Principle objectives:

• to help group members to develop sales through the promotion and use of appropriate colours in plastics
• to develop industry standards/norms in terms of testing, measuring and specifying colours for use in plastics
• to provide a platform through which influence can be exerted on relevant legislative and regulatory affairs
• to develop clear and consistent advice for distribution to customers, media and other agencies
• to provide information to members about changes in legislation and any other commercial influences pertinent to the industry and to provide advice on how to deal with them, for example, employment law
• to promote best practice in health and safety issues
• to establish links outside the industry with other bodies/organisations/BPF groups, who can provide advice and help with relevant topics of interest to members
• to establish links with other national bodies representing the masterbatch industry outside the UK

For more information on the BPF Masterbatch Group please contact Sarah Plant at the BPF on 0207 457 5015 or see the Masterbatch Group Page