Cutting-Edge Facilities | Setting the Standard | Our History
We’ve been an industry leader
since powder coating technology was commercialised
Plastic Coatings Ltd was proudly established in 1952, and, since this time, we have solidified ourselves as a prominent subcontract coating service provider – with one of the widest product and service ranges delivered under one roof.
We adhere to the ethos of “made better”. With Plastic Coatings, you can be assured your products are made better with performance coatings achieved through our industry knowledge, state-of-the-art facilities, and highly skilled team.
We cater to all scales of projects – from small, short runs to high volume production and large components. Throughout this, we maintain a premium standard of service to ensure your products are delivered on time with the durability, quality, and aesthetics required for their application.
Plastic Coatings works with a variety of industries and sectors, including the energy market, automotive, medical, construction, domestic appliances, and the defence industry.
Cutting-Edge
Facilities
Plastic Coatings is a full-service coating provider. We offer in-house pretreatments, a full range of plastic coatings across sixteen coating lines, and UK delivery with our HGV fleet.
We operate on a 50,000 square foot facility in the heart of the Midlands, which facilitates strategic transportation links.
Setting the
Standard
Our reputation for quality is backed by numerous accreditations. This includes IATF 16949, ISO9001, ISO14001 and ISO45001, ensuring we adhere to international industry, quality, environmental and health and safety standards.
We have further set the standard for employee satisfaction, having been awarded an Investors in People accreditation and boasting outstanding employee retention statistics.
In 2023, Plastic Coatings further became an employee-owned organisation.
Our History
Plastic Coatings has grown vastly since our beginnings in 1952.
Discover how we’ve developed, staying ahead of changing industry landscapes and customer and community needs.
1952
Plastic Coatings Ltd was established under the name ‘Durable Coatings’ in Guildford, Surrey, by Mr Nigel Vinson, then just 21 years old.
Durable Coatings operated out of a Nissen hut on the site that is now Friary Square Shopping Centre in Guildford (photo – Entrance to Friary Square and Nissen Hut).
The company expanded quickly. Industry demand and technological advances led Mr Vinson to start a second operation, later known as Plascoat Systems. This company focussed on the development of coating materials, becoming a market leader in thermoplastic coating technology and coating plant design and manufacture.
Plastic Coatings Ltd had expanded to over 1000 employees by this time and operated from five sites across the country, including its Kingswinford site, a single unit on the Lanesford Industrial Estate.
1965
The Guildford operation moved to a brand-new factory in Woodbridge Meadows, Guildford.
1969
Plastic Coatings Ltd utilised a mould tool to create a children’s shoe – ‘Globoots’ – using one of our PVC coatings. Some 320,000 pairs were sold in the first year and the company went on to win a Design Council Award for the innovative use of the coating material.
Mr Vinson floated the company on the London Stock Exchange and gifted 10% of the shares to employees.
1970
Mr Vinson sold his remaining shares to Imperial Tobacco Company and retired from his position as Executive Chairman to pursue a career in politics, going on to become an important advisor to Margaret Thatcher and the Conservative Government.
Late 1970s
ACI International became majority shareholders.
Mid 1980s
Some operations were centralised to reduce costs and overheads. The Leicester operation and willing members of staff were transferred to the Kingswinford site.
Plastic Coatings Kingswinford was particularly successful; it now occupied 7 of the 9 units on the Lanesford Industrial Estate.
Nigel Vinson becomes Lord Nigel Vinson in 1985.
1988
Plastic Coatings Kingswinford was one of the first sub-contract coating applicators to adopt the new ISO 9001:1987 quality standard.
1991
ACI International sold Plastic Coatings Ltd to BTR Ltd (formerly British Tyre & Rubber Company).
1994
Plastic Coatings Ltd adopted the new ISO 9001:1994 quality standard, one of the first sub-contract coating applicators to gain approval.
Mid 1990s
BTR were looking to divest some of the businesses that didn’t fit with its restructuring strategy.
By 1996, Plastic Coatings Ltd and Plascoat Systems, along with United Moulders Ltd, were subject to a MBO led by Mr Christopher Dunnett; this created the International Process Technologies Group.
1998
Plastic Coatings Kingswinford was subject to a major refurbishment. The now ageing buildings underwent remedial work, including new roofs, windows, external cladding and a new yard and security fences.
1999
The Kingswinford site expanded again into unit 8 of the Lanesford Industrial Estate. This allowed investment into a new large scale electrostatic powder coating plant.
Around this time, references to the Lanesford Industrial Estate were fading away; the Kingswinford site was now mainly occupied by Plastic Coatings Ltd and our neighbour, Strongdale Engineering.
British manufacturing was in decline; this was reflected in the need for coating services and by the early 2000s, the Oldham site had also closed, again transferring profitable accounts to the Kingswinford and Guildford Sites. Space at the Kingswinford site was now at a premium.
2005
Unit 8 suffered a catastrophic fire due to a faulty piece of equipment. The ‘new’ powder coating plant and the building were destroyed. The next 6 months would be spent rebuilding the unit and installing a state-of-the-art coating facility.
2006
The Guildford site was closed. Plastic Coatings Kingswinford became the head office, ideally situated to service the whole of the UK.
Plastic Coatings Ltd Kingswinford gains AS9100 Quality System Approval to support the aerospace work transferred from the Guildford facility.
2009
The Risca site was closed and the manufacture of telecommunication dropwire clamps for BT was moved to the Kingswinford site. Additional warehouse space was rented from neighbouring businesses as we continued to grow, with plant and equipment in every available space.
2010
Plastic Coatings Ltd becomes one of the first sub-contract coating applicators to gain the new vanguard automotive TS 16949 quality approval.
2014
Plastic Coatings Ltd purchased the Adonis House site, which neighboured the Lanesford Industrial Estate. This additional site facilitated the expansion of our low-friction coating facilities. Investment of over £1.5m in plant and equipment made Plastic Coatings Ltd the leader in low-friction coatings for the fastener industry.
2018
Plascoat Systems was sold to Axalta Group, marking the end of the strong relationship that dated back to when the companies were essentially one.
At the same time, United Moulders Ltd was sold to American Company, Drew Marine. IPT was wound up and Plastic Coatings Ltd once again became a stand-alone entity.
2022
Lord Nigel Vinson retires from the House of Lords and Plastic Coatings Ltd celebrate our 70th anniversary.
2023
On 12th January, Plastic Coatings Ltd’s shares were sold to an Employee Ownership Trust. The departing shareholders wanted an exit that ensured the business would be in the best possible position to thrive over the next 70 years; allowing an EOT to be formed was deemed to be the most fitting option.
Accreditations
Approvals
Speak to the experts today
Operating from Kingswinford near Birmingham, our 24-hour processing facility in the West Midlands allows us to efficiently serve the entire UK.
With thirteen coating lines and a team of 90 employees, Plastic Coatings generates an annual turnover exceeding £7 million.