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Industrial consultancy services
News Release from: Smithers Rapra | Subject: Polymer research and test house website
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 22 April 2004
Polymer research house updates website
Rapra Technology, Europe's leading polymer research and test house, has relaunched its website - www.rapra.net - following an unprecedented month of enquiries.
Rapra Technology, Europe's leading polymer research and test house, has relaunched its website - www.rapra.net - following an unprecedented month of enquiries 'We wanted to streamline our product and services offerings for the site visitors - and also introduce some people elements into the overall mix and design,' says Rapra Technology marketing manager, Richard Walton
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 25 Apr 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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'March 2004 saw our site break the 50,000 'hits' barrier for the first time.
Some of these enquirers simply want information; others want to look into our services such as testing, polymer analysis or product design expertise.
The new site is intended to lay these choices and options out as clearly and as vividly as possible while making an attractive read overall.' New items include easy-to-complete technical enquiry order forms; ready access to Rapra's bookstore; user access to Rapra's online information database (www.polymerlibrary.com); up-to-date training and conference calendars as well as details of the main consultancy services in product design, testing and polymer analytical services.
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The new site structure is designed to allow faster and clearer navigation to the desired topics of interest.
'We hope that the plastics and rubber sectors will continue to keep using us as their technical point of reference,' says Walton.
'It is gratifying to see so much usage and need for the skills that we supply.
www.rapra.net will continue to be a major route to market for us as well as being the prime delivery mechanism for many of our products and services.' In its first full calendar year of trading as an MBO (2003) Rapra Technology, Europe's leading polymer research and test house, achieved year on year growth in sales of 9%.
Full and detailed financial results will be available in June 2004.
Chief Executive Andrew Ward is satisfied with the first findings of last year's commercial performance.
Ward notes that "the performance of our technology division - about 70% of the company - was especially encouraging.
Year on year sales for Rapra's Technology Division increased by some 15%".
Reasons for the growth include: Greater incidence of repeat business and higher spending single clients; Growth in new product testing areas; Growth in pharmaceutical and medical areas; Growth in legal and arbitration work; Growth in new polymer-based product design and development work Rapra Technology forecasts that demand for its polymer analysis skills in relatively new areas, such as pharmaceuticals and medical device testing, is set to rise by over 85% in the next four years.
Part of Rapra Technology's business aim is to grow this area to a GBP 0.5 million turnover by 2006.
Last year already achieved sales exceeding GBP 300,000 in this area.
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