UK rubber association may fold without more members

By David Eldridge

London -- More rubber and polyurethane companies need to back their trade association if it to continue fighting their corner on issues such as the Reach legislation.

The British Rubber and Polyurethane Products Association (BRPPA) has called a meeting to discuss its future, saying it is not receiving enough support from the UK industry.

The BRPPA said: “If there is insufficient recognition from the wider community that the association is defending the interests of the whole sector, then our association will struggle to survive, let alone prosper.

“Starkly put, the association needs greater involvement from companies within the sector than it has at the moment. Unless it can grow its membership or find new ways of operating with reduced costs then there is a risk that it will fold.”

BRPPA was set up two years ago when the British Rubber Manufacturers Association (BRMA) divided into two groups: the British Tyre Manufacturers Association (BTMA) and BRPPA.

The BRPPA has attracted 27 members, but said there are many more companies in the rubber and polyurethane sectors that are not engaging in the issues it is addressing, such as the Reach regulations.

An invitation to the meeting, which takes place on 11 July, has been sent to 60 companies, stating that the association has reached a “crossroads”.

BRPPA executive John Dorken told PRW.com that at this stage it is not possible to say whether the association would cease or reduce its activities. The meeting is “about sounding out the community that we are trying to serve”.

He said the association was set up to give a more focused offering to general rubber and polyurethane product manufacturers than the BRMA did. But potential members are fragmented, working in a variety of markets and materials, and the meeting is intended to allow companies to say what they want from an industry association.

BRPPA chairman Alex Celik said the association is being upbeat, noting that some current BRPPA members were not BRMA members and recognise the group's focused work. “We want to identify where the association will be in two to three years' time,” he said.

* The BRPPA meeting takes place on 11 July at the Michelin Sports & Leisure Centre in Trentvale, Stoke-on-Trent. Companies wishing to attend should contact John Dorken at the email link below.

From PRW (A Crain publication)

E-mail John Dorken at jdorken@brppa.co.uk