Stewart Group Holdings pushes the boundaries of carbon fibre injection moulding
Stewart Group Holdings, the UK manufacturer and supplier of plastic moulded products for technical, packaging, professional catering, gardening and home sectors, are now able, after extensive research and development, to bring unparalleled results in metal replacement through injection-moulded carbon fibre.
Stewart Group Holdings is delighted to make this announcement in conjunction with recent certification to the ISO/TS16949 standard, placing the company at the forefront of metal replacement light-weighting and cost reduction for automotive, aeronautical and mechanical design OEMs, enhancing Stewart Group Holdings’ capability as a manufacturing partner.
Manufacturing with carbon filled plastics will enable Stewart Group Holdings to produce a wide range of replacement parts, including components with thermal and electrical insulation properties. Carbon fibre mouldings are lighter, yet more durable, than a die-cast equivalent.
Carbon fibre is used extensively in the aerospace, automotive, sports equipment, and medical equipment industries. Key benefits are versatility, strength, impact resistance and durability. Carbon fibre is 70% lighter than steel and 40% lighter than aluminium, has a high strength to weight ratio and excellent corrosion resistance. It has a low mass and has the ability to replace complex post-casting assemblies through injection mould tooling design; a significant cost reduction benefit in labour and process.
Carbon fibre mouldings leaving Stewart Group Holdings’ Banbury factory will be stable, heat resistant and robust. Clients will also enjoy the benefits of greater design flexibility.
Jim Metcalf, Technical Sales Manager at Stewart Group Holdings, said: “Our carbon fibre moulding capability improves our offering to all types of businesses, especially automotive and Engineering OEMs. As well as the expertise to manufacture in carbon fibre, Stewart Group Holdings provides full design, FEA and development support.”
Stewart Group Holdings offers an extensive portfolio of products across its three specialist divisions of aerospace, automotive and medical industries. Additionally, they are the brand leader in plastic Gardening products and have been a longstanding supplier to the house wares and catering business sectors.
ENDS
Editor’s notes:
For further details, contact -
Emma De Maio
Email: emma@redheadpr.co.uk
Call: 07921 160134
Stewart - backgrounder
Stewart Group Holdings is the UK market leader in the manufacture and supply of technical plastic moulded products for the gardening, home and professional catering sectors. The company offers an extensive portfolio of products ranging from garden planters and propagators, to food containers and specialist storage products. Three specialist divisions also work across the aerospace, automotive and medical industries.
The company employs 70 permanent staff and 30 seasonal workers at a purpose-built 178,000 sq ft facility in Banbury, Oxon, which opened in September 2012. The factory and distribution centre includes state of the art machinery giving Stewart Group Holdings a world class advantage over its UK competitors.
It enjoyed a turnover of £13 million in 2010.
Stewart Group Holdings is headed by CEO Richard Butler who built his career in the technical plastics and rubber sector and has worked for leading manufacturers in the aerospace and automotive sector.
Originally established in 1945 the company was the subject of a BIMBO (buy-in/ management buyout) in June 2011. ECI, the mid-market private equity specialist, invested £12 million in the company in a deal that valued the business at £17 million.
Stewart Garden produces grow your own products, watering, pots, propagators and garden accessories and sundries. These are available in over 1600 outlets across the UK and Eire including major DIY outlets such as Homebase and Wilkinsons and garden centres across the UK such as Dobbies and Klondyke/Strikes, The Garden Centre Group and some 600 plus independent garden centres.
Stewart Garden plays an active role in the gardening and leisure industry through its membership of:
- GIMA – the Garden Industry Manufacturers Association
- Gardenex – the Federation of Garden and Leisure Manufacturers Limited
- HTA – the Horticultural Trades Association
Stewart won the House Beautiful Best Product Garden Category in 2005 and the Klondyke Dry Goods Supplier Award in 2010. The company was a GIMA Awards - POS Finalist in 2009, and Best of British Finalist in 2011. It’s Heat and Grow Thermostatic Propagator was top in the Which? Gardening Best Buy test on windowsill propagators 2011.
Stewart Home provides food storage and homewares products. These comprise of the Refine, Essentials and Seal Fresh food and drink storage collections, offering hygienic storage in a wide range of colours and shapes.
Stewart Catering supplies the Gastronorm and Seal Fresh food storage ranges to the catering industry and specialist cook shops via wholesale and cash and carry outlets.
Other Stewart Group Holdings divisions are:
Stewart Aerospace
Stewart Automotive
Stewart Medical
Each division of Stewart Group Holdings is BS ISO 9001-2000 and TS16949 accredited and operates from the company’s manufacturing, warehousing and distribution centre in Banbury, Oxon.
For more information visit www.stewartlimited.co.uk
For editorial enquiries, pictures, interviews and samples, contact Emma De Maio on 07921 160 134 or email emma@redheadpr.co.uk
