PlastikCity On Tour – STV Machinery

Our next stop was Northamptonshire, where we visited STV Machinery, a company renowned for its expertise in the repair, servicing and refurbishment of injection moulding machines. Situated in Wellingborough, this family-run business has steadily built a reputation for offering new and refurbished moulding machines to a diverse range of customers over its 25 years of trading.

We met with the managing director, Richard Perry, the second generation of the Perry family involved with running the business. With many years in the plastics industry, STV Machinery’s success lies in its commitment to providing high-quality products and technically led repair and refurbishment services of injection moulding machinery and ancillary equipment, backed by its experienced engineering team.

STV Machinery began its journey in 1999 as ‘STVconnect”, initially focusing on brokering injection moulding machines. At first, the company exclusively dealt with machines from German manufacturer, Dr BOY GmbH, a well-known brand in the industry, particularly in compact machines in smaller clamping force ranges. However, as STVconnect grew, its offering widened. In the early 2000s, STV expanded its portfolio to include refurbishing other German-branded machines, which dominated the market at the time. Brands like Arburg, ENGEL, KraussMaffei, Demag, and BOY became the focus of their refurbishment efforts due to their durability and continued demand. The high quality of these moulding machines ensured that even after 15 to 20 years of service, they remained viable options for refurbishment and resale. STV capitalised on this to great success, providing high-quality repairs and fully refurbished machinery to the second-hand market in the UK.

Growth & Expansion

In 2012, the company purchased and renovated the 12,000-square-foot building it currently inhabits in Wellingborough, moving from its previous location in Milton Keynes. Now with significant floor space, STV operates a dedicated workshop area for repairs and refurbs, as well as a separate showroom for its moulding machines, and a large stock holding of spare parts.

During the tour, Richard stressed the stock held on-site wasn’t simply buckets of heater bands, but a huge array of components and units from a range of machinery brands. With nozzles, tips, check rings, complete control units and plasticising units, electronic cards, hydraulic valves and more, all available on-site, means that the necessary spares and replacement components are always on hand for STV’s engineering team, ready to be added as replacements during a refurbishment, or for service and maintenance for the company’s machines out in the field.

By 2013, STV Machinery diversified further, adding ancillary equipment to its range. This allowed the company to offer a complete solution to its customers, bundling refurbished moulding machines with ancillary products such as conveyors from Virginio Nastri, automation from Yizumi, chillers from SML and granulators from Enmair, amongst other suppliers. This approach proved beneficial for clients seeking both efficiency and simplicity in their procurement process.

New as well as Refurbished

STV Machinery also offers a range of new injection moulding machines from Chinese supplier Yizumi, a brand known for delivering excellent value and reliability. These machines are particularly popular with trade moulders, as they offer cost-effective solutions without compromising on quality. Unlike some machines designed for niche applications, Yizumi machines are versatile, making them ideal for a wide range of general-purpose moulding tasks. This flexibility has made them a preferred choice for many of STV’s customers in a wide range of industries.

Rebrand to Represent a New Offering

In 2017, STVconnect rebranded to STV Machinery. This move was made to better represent what the company had grown to become, a supplier of machinery and equipment across a large range, both new, as well as repaired and refurbished.

STV Machinery also stands out for its comprehensive after-sales service. One of the company’s unique selling points is the six-month warranty they provide on their refurbished machines. This warranty is backed by a team of skilled engineers who possess a wealth of experience in both old and new moulding machines from a range of manufacturers. STV’s engineering team is undoubtedly one of the company’s greatest assets; they can service and repair machines that are decades old, ensuring that customers can rely on STV not just for the sale, but for the entire lifespan of their equipment, including spares, servicing and maintenance.

In addition to its expertise in refurbishment and servicing, STV Machinery positions itself as a “one-stop shop” for trade moulders. The company’s wide-ranging knowledge and product offerings allow it to provide complete solutions, including the necessary equipment and robots that customers need to streamline their operations.

Despite the challenges of a turbulent machinery market in recent years, STV Machinery remains proactive. The company has taken steps to respond to industry trends by investing in stock and improving its spare parts offering. This forward-thinking approach allows STV to meet customer needs more efficiently and ensures that they remain competitive.

Another distinctive feature of STV Machinery is its customer-centric approach. The company operates with an “open house” policy, welcoming customers to visit their showroom at any time. Whether for demonstrations, full mould trials or just to have a conversation over a cup of coffee, STV encourages a hands-on, personal relationship with its clients. This accessibility and willingness to engage with customers further cement STV Machinery’s reputation as a trusted and approachable business partner in the plastics sector.

Following the aforementioned cup of coffee and a tour around the STV facility, we sat down with Richard Perry to discuss the company and its plans in more detail.

Interview with STV Machinery’s Richard Perry

PlastikCity: STV Machinery has been in the plastics industry for many years. Can you tell us a bit about your history with the company and how it has evolved during that time?

Richard Perry: “We started in 1999 with my cousin Stefan Cork founding the company as STVconnect and my father Karl Perry jumped on board shortly after, initially focusing on brokering moulding machinery, with Boy machines as our main focus. I joined the company as Sales Manager in 2007, shortly after graduating with my Business Studies degree, and I’ve been involved with the company ever since.”

“I’m now Managing Director of STV, responsible for the sales of refurbished moulding machines of a wide range of brands, as well as new ancillaries and the Yizumi range of new injection moulding machines.”

You mentioned that you now refurbish a wide range of machinery. How did you expand into this area?

Richard Perry: “It was a natural evolution. STV originally connected buyers and sellers, (hence the original company name, STVconnect) but as more customers asked us to refurbish machines, we moved more into that area, and it’s what we’re known for today. We’ve been rebranded as STV Machinery since 2017, and we now refurbish all our machines in-house from our Wellingborough site. We also offer a six-month warranty on our refurbished equipment and our Yizumi machines are supported with a three-year warranty, which is something that sets us apart from many in the industry.”

You’ve also mentioned ancillary equipment as part of your offering. How does that fit into your overall business?

Richard Perry: “We started refurbishing ancillary equipment in 2013, but to be honest there wasn’t much value in it, compared to the longevity of moulding machines, so to fill that customer need, we shifted to selling a range of new ancillaries. It makes sense for our customers, as they prefer dealing with one supplier. If you’re financing equipment, it’s easier to have everything – the machine, the automation and the ancillaries – coming from the same place and this approach has worked well for us.”

“We started with single phase hopper loaders in 2015 and have slowly expanded the range ever since, now offering conveyors, dryers, dosers, granulators and robots, as well as an extensive range of spares.”

Who is your target market, and how does your product range cater to different customer needs?

Richard Perry: “Our target market is very broad. Used machinery often attracts newcomers to the industry because it offers a lower barrier to entry. These customers might need a bit more technical assistance and guidance, which we’re happy to provide.

“We help people who may not have much experience but have a great idea for a product. We guide them through the process, introduce them to toolmakers, and set them up with the right machinery, using our extensive in-house knowledge and experience.

“On the other hand, our new Yizumi machines are ideal for trade moulders who need reliable and cost-effective equipment. So, we cater to a wide range of needs across many sectors.”

What would you say is STV Machinery’s unique selling point?

Richard Perry: “Our service is our biggest asset. We don’t just sell machines; we support them with our own engineers. They can work on machines that are 20 years old as well as new ones, across a wide range of manufacturers, which is rare in the industry. The experience within our team is second to none, and we always make sure that our customers are well taken care of. That’s why we offer a six-month warranty on refurbished machines – because we stand behind our work and are confident in our quality.”

How do you ensure you stay ahead in such a competitive market?

Richard Perry: “The market has been turbulent, to say the least. We’re always looking to be responsive to trends. For example, during COVID, there was a shortage of moulding machines, and now we’re seeing a surplus. To stay ahead, we’ve been investing in stock and expanding our spare parts and service offering, particularly for older machinery, which is still very much in demand here in the UK.”

What does the future hold for STV Machinery? Do you have any plans or upcoming projects?

Richard Perry: “We’ve got plenty of plans! We’re focusing on being responsive to the market, ensuring we have the stock and spare parts available when our customers need them. We’re also working on new technologies for used equipment to make them more appealing. On top of that, we’ll soon be launching a new website to offer a more modern experience for our customers. We’re always looking for ways to improve.”

Are you planning to participate in any upcoming exhibitions or open days?

Richard Perry: “We’re always open to customers visiting our showroom, which is ready for mould trials or product demonstrations at any time. While we don’t have any specific open days planned, every day is essentially an open day here. We prefer to keep things intimate, so if a customer wants to inspect something in detail, they’re more than welcome to visit. We’re also gearing up for Interplas 2026, which will be a significant event for us.”

Finally, does STV Machinery have a company philosophy or mission statement that guides your operations?

Richard Perry: “Our focus changes year by year with our marketing. This year, we’ve been pushing the message of ‘You and Yizumi’, trying to encourage people to buy into the Yizumi brand as a company that offers complete service, not just a machine. It’s about building relationships with our customers and offering them long-term support.”

With a rich history and strong reputation in the plastics industry, STV Machinery continues to be a reliable partner for both new and established moulding businesses alike. With a combination of technical expertise, commitment to service, and a broad range of offerings, STV remains a trusted name in the world of injection moulding machinery.

Look out for the next edition of ‘PlastikCity on Tour’ to learn more about our excellent UK-based partners.

There are now well over 260 active partners represented on the PlastikCity site, many of which offer highly specialised products or services to our sector.

During our everyday course of business, we’ll be making a point of visiting as many of these partners as we can and using the time to better understand what they offer the market. We’ll then showcase them through this ongoing series of articles.

Maybe you can benefit from their services!

Read more news from STV Machinery here.

STV Machinery
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