BPF Plastics in Automotive 2025

Business leaders, suppliers, and industry innovators from across the supply chain gathered at Edgbaston Stadium for a detailed look at the sector, it’s challenging year (following a series of challenging years) and how recovery can be possible with the right support and a level of innovation that is widely recognised in the industry.

With a mix of Expert speakers and table-top exhibitors, the event was chaired by Ian Ray of McLaren Automotive Ltd. Ian opened proceedings by remarking on the never-ending ‘surprises’ the sector has faced and their impact on the supply chain, but remains confident that automotive will continue to play an important part in the UK economy.

The speaker programme kicked off with Dr Claire Flanagan of Kene, an R&D funding partner supporting SMEs to access R&D tax credits, innovation grants, and the Patent Box incentive, and now DRIVE35: a £2.5 billion programme of capital and R&D funding for the automotive industry. The package forms part of the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy, which takes bold ambition to significantly increase business investment in the advanced manufacturing sector by 2035.

Dr Flanagan was followed by Professor David Bailey of Birmingham University. Professor Bailey previously spoke at the BPF Meetings Day back in July this year on the economic forunes of the UK manufacturing sector. On this occasion he was examining the impact of the JLR shutdown, what went wrong, what the government did (or didn’t do), and what lessons were learned.

He was followed by a Birmingham University colleague, Dr Matt Lyons looking at the impact of US tariffs on the UK auto industry both in the short and medium term and what this will mean for both the main producers and downstream users. Dr Lyon talked about how employment in the UK automotive sector is 14% down from its peak. He said this is important as the automotive sector is the second biggest buying sector for plastics in the UK after construction.

The days technical subjects were covered by Thierry Jaffrain, Benvic (a major supplier of PVC compounds) and Rory Chandler, Business Development Manager, Albis (UK) Ltd.

Theirry provided insight on the future of recycled polymer compounds and how they can meet the needs of a modern car industry. Rory explored the work Albis did with the Metz Racing Team (MTR). Albis supported MRT in reducing vehicle weight without compromising its performance on the track. Part of the project required the use of a polypropylene reinforced with recycled carbon fibre which made the moulds easier to handle and improved the quality of the final composite parts. This meant that the negative shapes of the wing were machined directly into blocks of engineering plastic (WIC PP 30 BK) supplied by ALBIS, and then to drape directly into these moulds.”

Rory was followed by a presentation from Lewis Campbell from Loop 52 and Marc Trent from Charles Trent Ltd. Lewis and Marc talked in depth about the challenges facing ELV processors in the UK and the importance of OEM’s, government and automotive part manufacturers ensuring that they communicate with recyclers.

The event concluded with a panel discussion where speakers Ian Ray, Lewis Campbell and Dr Matt Lyons explored what is needed to boost the UK automotive industry. The panellists talked about the need for recruiting new talent into the auto industry, their desire for consistency of approach from government and of the challenges of trade into international markets.

The BPF Plastics in Automotive Applications Seminar is an annual in-person event open to members and non-members and explores the challenges and opportunities in the plastics packaging sector.

For more information on BPF events contact [email protected]

For more information on the BPF Automotive Forum, contact [email protected]