Three companies within the GBP 40m-turnover Thompson Plastics Group (Hessle, East Yorkshire / UK; www.thompson-technik.com) were placed in administration on 22 December 2008. The three businesses comprise two thermoforming operations, Thompson Plastics (Hull) and Plastics Manchester, and Thompson Technik (Bridgend), which specialises in rotational moulding. Two other companies that produce mainly PU components, Thompson Technik (Hessle) and Thompson Technik (Newcastle), are continuing to operate normally.

Thompson Plastics supplies components for the off-highway and commercial vehicle, caravan and industrial products markets. Parts of these, particularly the caravan sector, have been hard-hit by the economic downturn, with sales down by more than 30%. The group was attempting to restructure operations before calling in the administrator, Leeds-based PKF (www.pkf.co.uk).

Plastics Manchester and Thompson Plastics (Hull) have stopped production and are shutting down. Their assets, including machinery and stock, are now for sale. The 70 staff from Thompson Plastics (Hull) have transferred to the adjacent facility of Thompson Technik (Hessle), which is completing orders for both businesses that are closing. There have been 65 redundancies at Thompson Technik (Bridgend), where a skeleton staff is completing existing orders. The business is for sale and joint administrator Charles Escott says there has been a high level of interest and that he is hopeful a sale will go ahead.

Established in 1977, the privately-owned Thompson Plastics Group underwent a management buyout in May 2008, led by group managing director Richard Clynes – see Plasteurope.com of 27.05.2008. The purchase price was not disclosed. At the time the group employed 560 staff. In addition to thermoforming and rotational moulding, the group’s comprehensive range of plastics operations have included the processing of polyurethanes, glass roving reinforced PUR and pDCPD (polydicyclopentadiene).