The joint technical moulding capacity from both companies provides machinery capability from 25 to 1,100 tonnes, including injection, compression and composite moulding services for products weighing from 5 grams to 10 kg.

Two UK contract moulders – Merriott Plastics and Talisman – have just combined to create a multi-site, multi-competence business.

Champion added: "Throughout the new company our key focus will always be about doing the right thing for our customers. Andrew and I therefore encourage all to call up, get in touch and put this  commitment to the test. We are also exhibiting at Plastics Live 2024, Coventry Arena, June 12-13, 2024 so please make a date to visit our stand then."

Milacron announced this week an addition to its line of electric Fanuc Roboshot injection molding machines in the Americas. The Alpha-SiB line, with 55-, 110-, 140-, 165- and 240-ton models, is based on the popular Fanuc Roboshot Alpha-SiA series. Various injection capacities are available for high-precision molding applications. Milacron said that it will deliver its first Alpha S140iB to a custom molder in the Midwest in the second quarter of 2021.

The Alpha-SiB series includes a high-resolution/performance Panel iH control and new electrical standards. Additionally, Milacron has announced that several previous options are now standard with the iB series, including increased mold stack height, three-stage air eject, expanded I/O for automation/sequencing, precision clamp-force control for consistent venting and reduced mold wear, and 200 Operator ID with custom lock-out capability for security control and tracking.

That legacy tradition is considerable: Talisman (known as LGG Charlesworth until 2018) is more than one hundred years old while Merriott Mouldings began production in the village of Merriott, Somerset in 1938 and ICM in Rochester, Kent in 1947. Each company is a member of the British Plastics Federation and has contributed greatly to the growth and culture of UK Plastics plc.

Milacron and Fanuc adapted the Roboshot Alpha to meet the requirements of a variety of applications on both the clamping and injection unit, said the companies. Special features have been developed for applications involving medical products, liquid silicone rubber, optics, electrical connectors, and packaging.

The Fanuc Roboshot Alpha-SiB series is available in various injection capacities for high-precision molding applications.

The newly expanded company will provide customers - particularly in the Midlands, South West and South East - with improved and local product development, manufacture, logistics and technical support.

Indeed, Merriott Talisman customers in primary group markets such as automotive, electrical, defence and air and fluid movement can now look forward to the many benefits that will flow from the new business which is expected to turnover in excess of £15m sales this year.

The new grouping will be led by Shaun Champion of Talisman and Andrew Lawrence, Merriott Plastics. Lawrence said: "We are truly delighted to announce this historic merger; bringing both these industry names together in the service of our customers and for UK manufacturing - while also honouring the legacy tradition that has brought us together."

The Roboshot Alpha systems have proven especially popular in the medical and packaging spaces over the last two years, according to Kent Royer, Technical Product Manager–Roboshot. “Since NPE 2018, we also have seen a high demand for the integration of Mold-Masters hot runner controllers,” he added in a prepared statement. “Using Modbus and SPI communications, we’ve developed capabilities that will reduce human error in operation and allow for the creation of custom shut-down sequences.”

Changing times, however, require a dynamic response to business that builds on tradition: Shaun Champion Talisman Plastics managing director notes that ‘growth at Talisman in the last 5 years has seen us doubling our turnover and making major investments in people and equipment. This merger enables that rate of growth to continue – providing ‘win-win’ for us - but also great things for our customers, current and future.’

Andrew Lawrence remarked that the company is excited to be bringing together the wealth of expertise and knowledge that exists within its businesses, thus creating a formidable team.