SPC Rubber expands colour compounds factory

Maerdy, South Wales – UK rubber compounder SPC Rubber has invested in a new mixing facility at its manufacturing plant in Rhondda Valley, South Wales, which is dedicated to colour compounding. 

The company has added a new 35-litre mixer at the Rhondda Valley ultraclean factory, to produce “high quality, superior performance, coloured elastomer compounds,” SPC Rubber said in a 21 Dec statement.

With complete cycle and temperature control and full access for cleaning to the mixer chamber, the mixer offers “excellent reproducibility,” said SPC Rubber, noting that the equipment was particularly suited to the mixing of low volume compounds for critical markets.

Commenting on the investment, Paul Hallas SPC managing director said the company has been expanding its production capability in the UK, “despite the challenging conditions in 2020.”

Overall, Hallas said, the market demand for rubber compounds was strong and the range of applications are continuing to rise. 

The new mixer, he added, bridges the gap between the company’s smaller mixing lines and its large one.

“I believe UK manufacturing companies must continue to invest. Following Brexit we will inevitably be faced with new trading conditions next year and UK manufacturers must strive to continue to be market leaders in their industries,” he added.

According to the company statement, the compounder developed several new coloured aerospace (AMS) and food industry (FDA) elastomer compounds during 2020. 

Opened in 2017, the Wales site accommodates a range of manufacturing orders, supplying batches from just 5kg to 140kg at a time. The new 35-litre mixer will provide “intermediate batch volume”, enabling cost-effective production level trials of new grades.

The facility also has its own technical development laboratory with both analytical and mechanical testing machines. 

SPC Rubber also operates two technical rubber production plants in Bristol, UK, and Barcelona, Spain.