HotSeat – Kevin Horne, Managing Director at Renmar Plastics Machinery
Renmar Plastics Machinery is a leading supplier of ancillaries and machinery to various industries, including plastics, packaging, and automotive. After setting up the business as a “one-man band” in 2001, Managing Director Kevin Horne has evolved Renmar into a family run company with their own premises in Northamptonshire. He is the next PlastikCity Partner to face the HotSeat…
What trends do you think will shape the future of UK plastics? How will Renmar respond?
The recycling of plastics is playing a big part right now; the need to reduce single use packaging and the development of more sophisticated polymers. Our machinery partners at Amut S.p.A have spent a lot of time and effort in developing the technology required to successfully extrude and thermoform materials like PLA – a starch-based resin extruded into sheet for packaging trays and punnets on the basis it is bio-degradable. They have also entered in to a co-operation agreement with Erema to produce an extrusion line that can turn 100% RPET flake into single layer food grade sheet in line with new legislation due to come into force in 2019. Renmar will continue to respond to changing market needs by ensuring our machinery and ancillary ranges are fit for purpose.
How has Renmar developed during your tenure?
By establishing and nurturing key partnerships with leading European ancillary suppliers, as well as remaining responsive, we’ve significantly grown our offering. More recently we have focused our efforts on our range of shredders and granulators as this is the direction of growth we anticipate in response to the current recycling focus in media and government, as well as business.
What do you credit as the key to your success?
My experience of many years in the industry working with a number of excellent UK companies, and practical knowledge gained over that past 37 years. Working closely with suppliers enables us to tailor our solutions for customers, for example, more than 70% of the belt conveyors we sell are bespoke.
What has been the greatest challenge in your career?
For me it has been developing a winning team. We find a family run business can be a real asset as we are all working towards the same goal: Mutual success.
What advice do you wish you’d had on entering the industry and does that differ from the advice you would give to an Apprentice joining now?
I think the best advice then and now would be that there is always a need for “hands on” people so never give up on your practical skills – they are equally as important as academic ones.
What hidden talents do you have?
I have just started to learn how to kayak – not yet a talent, but hopefully one day!
Renmar Plastics Machinery
+44 (0) 844 6933225
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