Across the show, sustainability ruled in new materials technology, from polyolefins and engineering resins to biobased materials.

At the Pinxton site, more than 200 staff work across a vast 40,000 sq-ft warehouse which straddles the village's Plymouth Avenue.

The rotary moulding method is labour intensive according to Jay and in general the daily running of Strata Products is hot and noisy work. But Jay says bosses know their teams work incredibly hard and says they strive to show staff they're valued.

In this collection, which is part one of a series representing some of John’s finest work, we present you with five articles that we think you will refer to time and again as you look to solve problems, cut cycle times and improve the quality of the parts you mold.

"70% of our plastic is recycled," says Jay "The recycled plastic is processed and supplied to us by one of our sister companies. This is an important aspect to our business as we want to supply niche products that are sustainable and high quality."

Strata Products is a family run business on a huge scale, making household storage solutions, as well as decorative planters, gardening products, baby gear and Mrs Hinch inspired baskets and boxes for organising shelves.

Earlier this month MP for Bolsover Mark Fletcher visited the Pinxton factory and says the firm is a good example of the type of business the area needs to attract in order for the East Midlands to achieve its 'levelling up' ambitions.

Following his visit to Strata Products and nearby Delden Cranes, he said: "It’s companies like the ones I’ve visited over the last couple of days that we need to continue attracting to the Bolsover constituency if we’re to achieve our goal of levelling up the area. Building back from the pandemic and offering good quality local jobs is central to much of the work I’m trying to do.

Today, the company is owned by US firm Berry Global but the day-to-day running remains with the family and managing mirector Jay Ilsen, 38, who is the grandson of Strata's founder. He took over this role from his own father Michael Ilsen and is just as dedicated to the business as the two generations before him.

Take a deep dive into all of the various aspects of part quoting to ensure you’ve got all the bases—as in costs—covered before preparing your customer’s quote for services.

"Rotary moulding gives us the ability to create much more elaborate and attractive designs," explains Jay, who joined the family business in 2007 as sales director and recently took over as MD.

NPE2024: BASF is using its proprietary computer-aided engineering tool Ultrasim when designing for sustainability in a broad range of industries.

While injection moulding offers a more traditional way of creating plastic items when the liquid plastic is poured in and the shape pressed out, rotary moulding gives the chance to add design and texture to items and Jay explains that the use of and investment into this technique is part of what helps Strata stand out.

It's easy to assume that lots of the plastic items we buy and use on a daily basis were made in far flung places but it turns out lots of them are created right here in Nottinghamshire.

And as Brits fell back in love with their gardens, demand for Strata's water butts increased - thankfully the factory produces 4000 a day.

This Knowledge Center provides an overview of the considerations needed to understand the purchase, operation, and maintenance of a process cooling system.

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has released final figures for NPE2024: The Plastics Show (May 6-10; Orlando) that officially make it the largest ever NPE in several key metrics.

In this collection of articles, two of the industry’s foremost authorities on screw design — Jim Frankand and Mark Spalding — offer their sage advice on screw design...what works, what doesn’t, and what to look for when things start going wrong.

"These black storage trunks might be recognisable to a lot of people," says Jay "The Heavy Duty Range is one of our top lines and we make this trunk in a range of sizes. We wanted to create something really durable and useful which was better than the basic plastic storage boxes on sale."

Formnext Chicago is an industrial additive manufacturing expo taking place April 8-10, 2025 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Formnext Chicago is the second in a series of Formnext events in the U.S. being produced by Mesago Messe Frankfurt, AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, and Gardner Business Media (our publisher).

With the garden range making up 50 per cent of Strata's product range and 45 per cent being homewares, Strata has been lucky enough to have maintained sales throughout the pandemic as people stayed at home and made improvements.

While prices moved up for three of the five commodity resins, there was potential for a flat trajectory for the rest of the third quarter.

Mixed in among thought leaders from leading suppliers to injection molders and mold makers at the 2023 Molding and MoldMaking conferences will be molders and toolmakers themselves.

Exhibitors and presenters at the plastics show emphasized 3D printing as a complement and aid to more traditional production processes.

Gifted with extraordinary technical know how and an authoritative yet plain English writing style, in this collection of articles Fattori offers his insights on a variety of molding-related topics that are bound to make your days on the production floor go a little bit better.

Since its start, Strata has gone from strength to strength, now employing hundreds of workers from nearby Sutton-in-Ashfield, and the local residents of Pinxton as well as wider Mansfield and Nottinghamshire and now has sales of around £21 million.

In 2013 Strata was beginning to dominate the market and acquired struggling gardening brand Sankey. In 2016, Strata was awarded a prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise as a result of its impressive export growth.

This month’s resin pricing report includes PT’s quarterly check-in on select engineering resins, including nylon 6 and 66.

Multiple speakers at Molding 2023 will address the ways simulation can impact material substitution decisions, process profitability and simplification of mold design.

technotrans says climate protection, energy efficiency and customization will be key discussion topics at PTXPO as it displays its protemp flow 6 ultrasonic eco and the teco cs 90t 9.1 TCUs.

While prices moved up for three of the five commodity resins, there was potential for a flat trajectory for the rest of the third quarter.

Mold maintenance is critical, and with this collection of content we’ve bundled some of the very best advice we’ve published on repairing, maintaining, evaluating and even hanging molds on injection molding machines.

Additive technology creates air pockets in film during orientation, cutting down on the amount of resin needed while boosting opacity, mechanical properties and recyclability.

As noted by Haimi previously, “Sulapac’s business model is based on partnerships and factor in as a service concept, meaning we do not own any production facilities but partner with existing production plants. This business model enables localized manufacturing of the end-products, and as our business grows, also the material production can be taken close to the customer.”

Join this webinar to explore the transformative benefits of retrofitting your existing injection molding machines (IMMs). Engel will guide you through upgrading your equipment to enhance monitoring, control and adaptability — all while integrating digital technologies. You'll learn about the latest trends in IMM retrofitting (including Euromap interfaces and plasticizing retrofits) and discover how to future-proof your machines for a competitive edge. With insights from industry experts, it'll walk you through the decision-making process, ensuring you make informed choices that drive your business forward. Agenda: Maximize the value of your current IMMs through strategic retrofitting Learn how to integrate digital technologies to enhance monitoring and control Explore the benefits of Euromap interfaces and plasticizing retrofits Understand how retrofitting can help meet new product demands and improve adaptability Discover how Engel can support your retrofitting needs, from free consultations to execution

Strata Products started life in Pinxton in 1987 after the government gave out subsidies for companies to bring their businesses to former mining communities which needed industry and jobs.

Resin drying is a crucial, but often-misunderstood area. This collection includes details on why and what you need to dry, how to specify a dryer, and best practices.

The successful launch of the BetterBarrel by Schwan Cosmetics last year, and Toly’s popular Infinity Line of powder compacts made with Sulapac further demonstrate the versatility of Sulapac’s offering. Sulapac has also developed premium quality solutions in collaboration with Chanel, including sustainable bottle caps created exclusively for the fragrance range Les Eaux DeChanel and the lid for the N° 1 de Chanel Cream.

While the company has always done well, Jay says that major change was needed in 2007 and its growth has had a much steeper climb since then.

The Pinxton site is home to 40 machines working 24 hours to create products which are then sold to major chains including B&M, B&Q, The Range, Argos, Wilko and most major supermarkets as well as local sites like Nottingham's Nottcutts garden centre.

In a time where sustainability is no longer just a buzzword, the food and beverage packaging industry is required to be at the forefront of this innovation. By adopting circular packaging processes and solutions, producers can meet regulatory requirements while also satisfying consumer demand and enhancing brand reputation. Join Husky to learn more about the broader implications of the circular economy — as well as how leading brands are leveraging this opportunity to reduce costs, increase design flexibility and boost product differentiation. Agenda: The cost and operational benefits of embracing circularity Key materials in circular packaging — including rPET and emerging bioplastics How to design a circular food and beverage package Strategies for selecting sustainable closures to future-proof packaging solutions Optimization and streamlining of production processes for enhanced efficiency How Husky Technologies can enable your sustainable success

“One major challenge beauty brands face in replacing conventional plastics is the strict performance criteria of the chosen materials,” said Sulapac’s international sales director Colin Strobant. “With Sulapac Luxe, we have shown that conventional plastics can be easily replaced without compromising on quality. We have listened to our customers’ challenges, and the material has been through an extensive development process to ensure it stands up to the highest demands for luxury performance.”

Mike Sepe has authored more than 25 ANTEC papers and more than 250 articles illustrating the importance of this interdisciplanary approach. In this collection, we present some of his best work during the years he has been contributing for Plastics Technology Magazine.

While the melting process does not provide perfect mixing, this study shows that mixing is indeed initiated during melting.

In this three-part collection, veteran molder and moldmaker Jim Fattori brings to bear his 40+ years of on-the-job experience and provides molders his “from the trenches” perspective on on the why, where and how of venting injection molds. Take the trial-and-error out of the molding venting process.

Besides materials for injection molding and extrusion, Sulapac’s portfolio includes solutions for thermoforming, allowing cosmetic companies to create sustainable logistic trays and point-of-sale displays, as well as for 3D printing enabling sustainable prototyping.

Join KraussMaffei for an insightful webinar designed for industry professionals, engineers and anyone interested in the manufacturing processes of PVC pipes. This session will provide a comprehensive understanding of the technology behind the production of high-quality PVC pipes: from raw material preparation to final product testing. Agenda: Introduction to PVC extrusion: overview of the basic principles of PVC pipe extrusion — including the process of melting and shaping PVC resin into pipe forms Equipment and machinery: detailed explanation of the key equipment involved — such as extruders, dies and cooling systems — and their roles in the extrusion process Process parameters: insight into the critical process parameters like temperature, pressure and cooling rates that influence the quality and consistency of the final PVC pipes Energy efficiency: examination of ways to save material and energy use when extruding PVC pipe products

Successfully starting or restarting an injection molding machine is less about ticking boxes on a rote checklist and more about individually assessing each processing scenario and its unique variables.

Plastics processors are finding applications for 3D printing around the plant and across the supply chain. Here are 8 examples to look for at NPE2024.

Jay oversees the incredible production of products at the Pinxton site and proudly gave Nottinghamshire Live a tour of the factory which uses three methods of producing thousands of items an hour at its bustling warehouse.

High density, resistance to temperature fluctuations, ceramic feel and sound, and a glossy, smooth surface are some of the material’s characteristics, which are important for luxury brands. Sulapac Luxe is not only recyclable, but as with all Sulapac materials, it can also be made with recycled content, another feature important for many premium brands. Said Haimi, “Sulapac is a pioneer in recycled bio-based materials and our aim is to use only recycled biopolymers within the next five years.” She noted that several high-end beauty brands have already shown interest in utilizing Sulapac Luxe in combination with their existing glass fragrance bottles or jars. The material is commercially available to all manufacturers and slips seamlessly into existing injection molding production lines.

With the expanded portfolio, Sulapac’s customers can now create packaging for various product areas, including skincare, makeup, and fragrances. Shiseido’s brand Ulé utilizes Sulapac for their lids, while a diverse group of skincare brands from Lumene to Manik package their products in Sulapac jars. The selection of materials and production techniques allows brands to choose between a matt, glossy, or natural appearance complimented by a wide range of color options.

Sulapac Luxe, ideal for replacing hard plastics such as ABS and its more flexible edition Luxe Flex open up new opportunities.

Second quarter started with price hikes in PE and the four volume engineering resins, but relatively stable pricing was largely expected by the quarter’s end.

Across all process types, sustainability was a big theme at NPE2024. But there was plenty to see in automation and artificial intelligence as well.

“Winning the East Midlands Freeport bid back in March was a huge win for the region and will help to continue attracting investment and jobs into the wider area. What we’re showing is that you won’t have to relocate elsewhere to get a good job, and that the Bolsover constituency and wider East Midlands is a brilliant place to do business.”

The pandemic definitely reminded us all that home is where the heart is but while lots of us were improving the places we live, who knew that so many of our homes and gardens were adorned with plastic products made just down the road.

Forty huge machines run 24 hours, all making a range of products in different ways, overseen by vital staff in roles such as machine setters and operators, pallet pullers, maintenance engineers and a tool room team.

Core Technology Molding turned to Mold-Masters E-Multi auxiliary injection unit to help it win a job and dramatically change its process.

As well as having weathered the pandemic, Jay says that Strata has benefitted from the Instagram trend for de-cluttering thanks to the likes of stars such as Mrs Hinch who has turned tidying into an online art from and Stacey Solomon who shows before and after shots of her home using 'tap to tidy' Instagram posts.

Many of us have probably never given much thought to what goes into making a plant pot but the factory is a fascinating insight into how every day items come to life.

A more flexible edition, Sulapac Luxe Flex, comes without the wood component.  This is a more ductile material with exceptionally good flow properties, and is ideal not only for caps and lids but also for compact powder boxes and other complicated designs. Sulapac Luxe Flex has a flexural strain of 10%. Both Sulapac Luxe and Luxe Flex can be used to replace ABS. “They have many similar properties, yet the Sulapac materials leave no permanent microplastics or toxic load behind during the use phase or in the end of life,”says Haimi.

Say “manufacturing automation” and thoughts immediately go to the shop floor and specialized production equipment, robotics and material handling systems. But there is another realm of possible automation — the front office.

"It was a very proud achievement which we were given the award for our growth in export and that's still where we see the future of the company."

August 29-30 in Minneapolis all things injection molding and moldmaking will be happening at the Hyatt Regency — check out who’s speaking on what topics today.

Not only that, they're being pumped out in their thousands from the small former mining village of Pinxton in the north of the county

Plastics Technology’s Tech Days is back! Every Tuesday in October, a series of five online presentations will be given by industry supplier around the following topics:  Injection Molding — New Technologies, Efficiencies Film Extrusion — New Technologies, Efficiencies Upstream/Downstream Operations Injection Molding — Sustainability Extrusion — Compounding Coming out of NPE2024, PT identified a variety of topics, technologies and trends that are driving and shaping the evolution of plastic products manufacturing — from recycling/recyclability and energy optimization to AI-based process control and automation implementation. PT Tech Days is designed to provide a robust, curated, accessible platform through which plastics professionals can explore these trends, have direct access to subject-matter experts and develop strategies for applying solutions in their operations.

After successfully introducing a combined conference for moldmakers and injection molders in 2022, Plastics Technology and MoldMaking Technology are once again joining forces for a tooling/molding two-for-one.

While the major correction in PP prices was finally underway, generally stable pricing was anticipated for the other four commodity resins.

Recently the company launched two new injection molding materials reportedly ideal for replacing hard plastics such as ABS and specifically developed for conventional plastics converting machinery. Sulapac Luxe, made of sustainably sourced biobased biodegradable biopolymers and wood flour, is said to be ideal for fragrance bottle caps, lids and cosmetic jars. “It’s the only material in our cosmetics portfolio with fine, non-visible wood,” notes Haimi.

They are created using a blow mould technique which is fascinating to watch. A large, thick tube shaped piece of soft plastic is lowered onto an air pipe inside the machine. This is them clamped between two moulds and air is blown into the middle of the soft plastic, blowing it out into the shape of the hollow butt inside the mould. The whole process takes just one minute.

In this collection of content, we provide expert advice on welding from some of the leading authorities in the field, with tips on such matters as controls, as well as insights on how to solve common problems in welding.

Showing a range of homeware baskets in on trend pastels as well as neutral shades Jay said: "These are really popular off the back of the Mrs Hinch trend and we're always looking for ways we can offer our clients something a little different so they have lids. Lids might not seem like a big thing but they help the product stand out and make it more functional."

Sustainability continues to dominate new additives technology, but upping performance is also evident. Most of the new additives have been targeted to commodity resins and particularly polyolefins.

Despite price increase nominations going into second quarter, it appeared there was potential for generally flat pricing with the exception of a major downward correction for PP.

Strata also now exports to more than 40 countries with products ending up places including the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Russia and Japan.

Finnish eco-startup company Sulapac, that first came to our attention in 2019, has been making significant strides with its biobased, biodegradable products, particularly in the luxury cosmetics packaging arena, with leading brands such as Chanel, which was one of its first investors. Sulapac was founded by two female biochemists specializing in biomaterials--Suvi Haimi and Laura Tirkkonen-Rajasalo.  Sulapac materials are made of responsibly sourced plant-based biopolymers and sustainable fillers like wood chips from industrial side-streams. The matrix resin varies between recipes and the recipe is always a unique combination of responsibly sourced biobased and biodegradable biopolymers and sustainable fillers. The biobased content in each recipe is maximized.

Processors with sustainability goals or mandates have a number of ways to reach their goals. Biopolymers are among them.

The aim of this presentation is to guide you through the factors and the numbers that will help you determine if a robot is a smart investment for your application. Agenda:  Why are you considering automation? What problems are you trying to solve? How and why automation can help Crunch the numbers and determine the ROI

Here are processing guidelines aimed at both getting the PHA resin into the process without degrading it, and reducing residence time at melt temperatures.

Join Wittmann for an engaging webinar on the transformative impact of manufacturing execution systems (MES) in the plastic injection molding industry. Discover how MES enhances production efficiency, quality control and real-time monitoring while also reducing downtime. It will explore the integration of MES with existing systems, emphasizing compliance and traceability for automotive and medical sectors. Learn about the latest advancements in IoT and AI technologies and how they drive innovation and continuous improvement in MES. Agenda: Overview of MES benefits What is MES? Definition, role and brief history Historical perspective and evolution Longevity and analytics Connectivity: importance, standards and integration Advantages of MES: efficiency, real-time data, traceability and cost savings Emerging technologies: IoT and AI in MES

Thousands of people visit our Supplier Guide every day to source equipment and materials. Get in front of them with a free company profile.

Jay and his father met Her Majesty The Queen, with Jay describing it as a very proud moment in the Nottinghamshire company's history.

Join Engel in exploring the future of battery molding technology. Discover advancements in thermoplastic composites for battery housings, innovative automation solutions and the latest in large-tonnage equipment designed for e-mobility — all with a focus on cost-efficient solutions. Agenda: Learn about cutting-edge thermoplastic composites for durable, sustainable and cost-efficient battery housings Explore advanced automation concepts for efficient and scalable production See the latest large-tonnage equipment and technology innovations for e-mobility solutions

"We needed to push ourselves out of our comfort zone and bring on more clients," says Jay "We were doing well and had a good base of loyal happy clients, but it was a time to grow and take Strata to the next level."

"We've struggled to attract as many staff recently because of the problems with workers from elsewhere being able to enter the country. We've also been hit by the new Amazon site opening as they are able to offer much more flexible working hours than we can because of the size of their operation.

Learn about sustainable scrap reprocessing—this resource offers a deep dive into everything from granulator types and options, to service tips, videos and technical articles.

Plastics Technology covers technical and business Information for Plastics Processors in Injection Molding, Extrusion, Blow Molding, Plastic Additives, Compounding, Plastic Materials, and Resin Pricing. About Us

"During the pandemic, we've been able to maintain jobs and production as the demand for home and garden items has been very high. In fact, we're proud to have been one of the main companies to have been able to keep up with demand over the last year."

"However, we're constantly looking for ways to show our staff that we value them and last week we arranged for an ice cream van to be onsite and give everyone a treat in the heat. We're also offering incentives such as shopping vouchers to those who take up the Covid-19 vaccine."

While Strata is now focussed on growing in its export markets around the world, Jay says it does take consideration for the planet seriously and that the majority of the plastic it uses is recycled.

"We're also able to create designs that that look like timber and these are really popular too as they're less expensive and last longer."

"Although the process is more expensive and labour intensive, the end result is worthwhile as we can create a whole range of plastic designs that look much better than some of the more basic products on offer."

Many of the company's products are made from 95% recycled plastic, including the company's leading black 145l heavy duty trunks which are made at a rate of 1,900 per day in the gigantic quarter of a million pound injection mould machines.

Processors with sustainability goals or mandates have a number of ways to reach their goals. Biopolymers are among them.

When, how, what and why to automate — leading robotics suppliers and forward-thinking moldmakers will share their insights on automating manufacturing at collocated event.

Driven by brand owner demands and new worldwide legislation, the entire supply chain is working toward the shift to circularity, with some evidence the circular economy has already begun.

With advocacy, communication and sustainability as three main pillars, Seaholm leads a trade association to NPE that ‘is more active today than we have ever been.’

Introduced by Zeiger and Spark Industries at the PTXPO, the nozzle is designed for maximum heat transfer and uniformity with a continuous taper for self cleaning.

It was founded by the current managing director's grandfather some years after he fled here as a 19-year-old from Nazi Germany and was given a home by the famous Cadbury Family who were known for offering refuge to those fleeing the country.

The rotary moulding technique involves powdered plastic being put into any shaped mould. The mould is rotated and put into a very hot oven where the plastic layers up inside the hollow mould, before being placed in a cooling area involving fans and a fine mist of water.

Discover how artifical intelligence is revolutionizing plastics processing. Hear from industry experts on the future impact of AI on your operations and envision a fully interconnected plant.

Ultradent's entry of its Umbrella cheek retractor took home the awards for Technical Sophistication and Achievement in Economics and Efficiency at PTXPO.

Strata's 40 machines are capable of creating hundreds of the home, garden and baby items we see at stores across the region and are at the forefront of helping to give consumers more choice, as Jay explains.