HotSeat – Nigel Witter, Managing Director at AC Rotational Moulders
AC Rotational Moulders was established in 1973 as AC Canoe Products and has been a specialist manufacturer of rotomoulded polyethylene products for the last 35 years. Founded by ex-world champion canoeist Robin Witter, the company is now managed by Robin’s son, Nigel Witter. He is the next PlastikCity Partner to face the HotSeat…
What trends do you think will shape the future of UK plastics? How will AC Rotational Moulders respond?
Sustainability and diversity! AC continues to invest in technologies and expertise to give back to the environment.
While historically, AC has been almost 100% boat manufacturers, we are now looking at using our expertise to utilise the large ovens we have and produce other large products across a variety of other industries. Rotational moulding allows for us to be experimental with material formulations, and this is allowing us to use less virgin material and more recycled content, without reducing or compromising on quality.
How has AC Rotational Moulders developed during your tenure?
Since 1973, when AC Canoe Products was founded by my father, and ex-world champion slalom canoeist, Robin Witter, AC Rotational Moulders has gained an unrivalled reputation for producing bespoke, innovative and versatile design-led products. Such products include freestyle, ocean racing, slalom, wild water, flat water and sea canoes and kayaks, including for those with special needs and for leading companies and organisations in the world of water sport.
By the mid-eighties, extensive research & development in the water sports sector led to demand from the marine leisure dinghy market, where AC Rotational Moulders supports international boat designers with a specialism in durable, safe, low maintenance, versatile starter and training dinghy hulls.
The company remains under continued ownership of the Witter family and is now redeveloping many of our own proven kayaks. We are once again making them available to market directly from the factory or via our distributors in Europe.
AC Rotational Moulders manufactures for many brand leaders in the watercraft industry today, both in the UK and overseas, and will continue to be at the forefront of the UK rotomoulding industry for many years to come.
What do you credit as the key to your success?
With over 35 years’ experience in the production of three-layer sandwich foam technology, the business manufactures and supplies custom rotational moulded products to a wide range of industries worldwide from its UK base. We operate seven rotational moulding machines, specifically designed for the manufacture of large products and that are considered to be some of the largest in Europe, capable of handling oversize finished product up to 5.1 metres in length, 1.6 metres wide and weighing up to 200kg.
AC Rotational Moulders prides itself on innovation within our product range, working closely with our customers in product development, who rely on our technical knowledge and expertise to bring their concepts to market.
By utilising the latest raw materials, we can manufacture lighter weight products, while maintaining the quality, strength and durability required by customers.
This reinforces our position with our customers as a market-leading business in rotational moulding.
What has been the greatest challenge in your career?
Taking over this company with its successful reputation and heritage!
Inheriting a company that has been rotomoulding for a long time, predominantly in the water sports industry, coupled with the legacy within the canoeing world that my father had established, and trying to innovate and optimise our UK quality products against cheaper, lower-quality imports.
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 came with experience gained from working for a rotomoulding company in Australia and I would advise to always and continually challenge everyone within your business for improvements.
Doing the same thing is not necessarily doing the right thing – be solutions-driven – everything’s possible!
What hidden talents do you have?
I’m a craft brewer and have a penchant for inappropriate Australianisms during polite English conversations having spent ten years in the rotomoulding industry in Melbourne.
It’s said I am slightly less eccentric than my father – the original founder of AC!
AC Rotational Moulders
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