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Issue 03 – October 2012


Jim Graham, General Manager at McAlpine, has accompanied the relationship from the start. “It’s now a bit like ordering your weekly shopping; quick, easy and reliable, with Plastribution taking away all the concerns of inconsistent supply away from us.


This is how true supplier partnership is meant to be,” he says. “The partnership is part and parcel of the fabric of both companies and extends through various levels of management and operation.


For example, a number of McAlpine production staff have benefited from the training courses that Plastribution has run over recent years, including its 3-day “Process Optimisation” and “Injection Moulding for Non-Technical Staff” courses.


This training in polymer processing has helped both companies “get on the same page” technically, and has also been useful in contributing to production performance at McAlpine.”


Barry Hunter, Production Manager at the McAlpine Johnstone site says that “it is almost six years since I and a production colleague took part in the “Process Optimisation” course. To this day I still use the knowledge and the literature we brought away from the course in order to train our apprentices that have joined us over the years.”


McAlpine commenced manufacturing plumbing products in 1902 and now manufacture an exceptionally wide range of products of the highest quality for use in the United Kingdom and other world markets. The relationship with Plastribution started around 20 years ago when the polymer distributor (then under the name of Thistle Plastics) was asked to assist with ABS cracking in some of McAlpine’s parts.


Plastribution was able to recommend a high-flow material alternative and the relationship grew from there.


Today, Plastribution supplies all three McAlpine sites in and around Glasgow, with each site having a busy weekly requirement. In addition to the three McAlpine sites, two other sub-contract moulders are supplied.


McAlpine materials are packed and provided by Plastribution in various formats; 25kg bags, octabins and tanker deliveries direct into their silos. Each McAlpine site also has various requirements that need attending to; such as using modified tankers for noise-reduction in residential areas.


Helping reduce costs Another key attribute of Plastribution’s service-based approach is its ongoing efforts to reduce costs for McAlpine. Examples of how this is achieved include:


Plastribution managing the materials supply chain, thus:


Ensuring continuity of supply, without the need for McAlpine to carry expensive stock.


Continuously comparing McAlpine usage against stock levels and supplier lead times and prompting orders to be placed at the most efficient time.


Plastribution providing McAlpine with a custom-made assessment of current market conditions and the best time to buy stock;


Plastribution coordinating its purchasing to maintain competitive pricing for McAlpine


In addition to the above; Plastribution also helps McAlpine with:


Reduced administration & purchasing costs by dealing with one supplier.


Plastribution supplying in multiple packaging formats depending on the particular needs of the individual site, reducing handling and labour costs.


Plastribution sharing its technical materials knowledge: For example, an altered grade of PPCP with the higher MFI and modified additive package helped McAlpine achieve an approximate 8% reduction in cycle time across a range of PPCP fittings.


Plastribution MD Mike Boswell says that “we are delighted to be partnering McAlpine at the PIA supplier awards this year. I believe that what both companies have achieved represents the best practice that our industry can offer in so many ways. I have high hopes for our success!”


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