Rapra and PTL to develop business partnerships

Rapra Technology polymer research and test house and Polymer Training - a processing skills trainer - have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop 'win-win' business partnerships.

Rapra Technology, Europe's leading polymer research and test house, and Polymer Training Ltd, (PTL) the UK's leading processing skills trainer, have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop 'win-win' business partnerships and opportunities in the areas of training, skills, product innovation and other related areas.

After some months of discussion Telford-based PTL and Shawbury-based Rapra have both agreed to formalise some of their previously less formal co-operative arrangements.

In addition to some additional access to each other's facilities and resources, future Rapra/PTL joint activity will also include the joint marketing of certain courses.

In addition, they plan to collaborate more actively in putting forward joint bids to access regional or national government funding to help support the polymer sector.

Rapra and PTL will now, for example, review both sets of training courses and, on a case by case basis, work towards more joint promotions where these are appropriate.

It is likely that PTL will continue to offer practical and machine based training and Rapra to continue with more theoretical and analytical based learning.

'We are delighted to be working together with PTL in this way,' says Andrew Ward.

'These joint activities in no way compromise the independence of either organisation - but simply highlight those areas where we are set to serve the UK polymer industry better together.

The purpose of the exercise is to benefit the customer - and these benefits are set to appear henceforth.' In the short term, PTL is set to launch a 'Super Technician' based programme for apprentices in the West Midlands.

Rapra Technology will now also play its part in supporting this programme and will look for opportunities to develop skills at both sites.

The PTL site at Telford is also ideal for providing support for start-up ideas, product innovations and general proving and trialling support for processors who wish to make inroads into their product design and development.

Rapra Technology and PTL are intent on building jointly on the existing tool-trialling work undertaken at PTL's Telford facilities and also hope to secure future funds to further develop the facilities for that purpose.

PTL Chief Executive Ray Clarke says that 'we see this as an exciting development for both PTL and Rapra.

Our activities are broadly complementary and there is a significant opportunity for this collaboration to develop world class support for the UK polymer industry.

Rapra's Marketing Manager, Richard Walton, added that "in my years of working in the polymer sector, clients have often wondered why there has not been more co-operation between our two organisations.

It makes sense, both for our clients and for ourselves to develop working partnerships such as this".

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