In 1972, Edward Heath was prime minister, the average weekly pay for male workers was £34.93 and the best selling car was the Ford Cortina MKlll. While 93% of British households had a television set, only 425 had a telephone.
It was also the year that saw the start of manufacturing winter debris covers from a small workroom based in London.
Half a century on and still a privately-owned business, Plastica has built a reputation as one of Britain’s leading independent manufacturers and distributors of swimming pool products.
The young entrepreneurs saw business quickly grow in those early years as they relocated to a larger premises in Hastings, East Sussex. This enabled them to add more products to their range including solar covers and reel systems.
Fifty years on, Plastica currently manufactures from its 13,000 m2 factory. Located on a six-acre site in St Leonard’s in East Sussex, it is home to more than 78 staff that focus on manufacturing and exceptional customer service. Products are created using an impressive combination of state-of-the-art factory equipment and skilled staff crafting handmade parts. Their facility produces a wide range of products, some sourced from different manufacturers from around the globe, but many produced in-house which is generally their preference so they can control the quality.
FIVE DECADES
Like many businesses in the wet leisure industry, Plastica found demand increased during the global COVID pandemic. With the substantial increase in both inflatable and acrylic hot tubs growth has been particularly apparent in Plastica’s Water Treatment department.
Last September, the expansion into a nearby 5000 square foot premises provided more storage space and room for an automated filling and capping machine.
This has enabled Plastica to streamline their growing orders run by an experienced team of Water Treatment staff.
RISING TO CHALLENGE
Another area of increased sales continues to be above ground wooden pool, so a decision was made to extend the timber department. Manufacturing during such unprecedented times has been a challenge over the last year, but Plastica rose to the challenge.
The business believes in continuous commitment, and over the years has invested heavily in its manufacturing technology and IT infrastructure. Their British-made Pool Liners, a range of Covers, Stainless Steel Reel Systems, Water Treatment and Pumps remain core business today and Plastica are confident about their future.
