New BPF Additives Group Chairman takes over

Bob Watson, of Ciba Specialty Chemicals has completed a three year term in office as Chairman of the BPF Additives Group and has now handed over the reins to Gavin Lewis, Sales Development Manager for Omya UK.

A well-known figure in the additives industry, Bob has been a member of the BPF Group since 1996, and spent a period as Vice-Chairman before becoming Chairman at the end of 2003.

Bob commented: The Group has grown substantially in the past three years, with 31 members manufacturing and supplying a broad spectrum of products adding value to plastics ranging from anti-microbials and anti-oxidants, to fillers, flame retardants and colourants.

Weve been in an excellent position to take advantage of the BPFs one industry platform, to influence critical product safety issues, such as the evolution of REACH legislation.  REACH will directly affect additives manufacture and innovation, and will put a massive burden on the competitiveness of manufacturing.

It has been my privilege to have worked with colleagues and the BPF itself, and I am delighted to pass the baton to Gavin, who will prove to be a safe and secure pair of hands, driving the work of the group to meet the challenges of the future.

Gavin is optimistic about the future direction of the Group.  He said: The debates around REACH in the EU have set a precedent for chemicals being an issue of concern for consumers.   But additives technology is about delivering plastics products solutions that are safer, more cost-effective, improve quality of life, and give environmental benefits.  We need to get these sorts of messages out to a wider range of industry stakeholders, including retailers and end-users and this will be reflected in our BPF Additives Group Business Plan for 2007.

Gavin officially took over as Chairman at the end of last weeks BPF Additives Group meeting on 29th November in London.

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For further information on this press release, please contact Thom Lant, British Plastics Federation, 6 Bath Place, Rivington Street, London, EC2A 3JE

Tel: 020 7457 5001, Fax: 020 7457 5045, [email protected]

Notes for editors

British Plastics Federation (BPF) is the UK trade association for the plastics industry - representing the whole supply chain including polymer producers, additives suppliers, distributors, machinery manufacturers, processors and recyclers.

The BPF Additives Groups mission is to maintain a strong networking platform, to promote and enhance the plastics additives business throughout the UK to the plastics supply chain, from processor to specifier and to the final customer.  More details can be found on the BPF website at: https://www.bpf.co.uk/bpfgroups/Additives_Group.cfm