Scottish rubber company forms a joint venture to manufacture rubber covered rollers for the paper industry

SPRA member, Graeme Noble, is heading up a new rubber industry venture, Regal-Kalker Paper, based in Fife, to manufacture rubber roller coverings for the paper industry.  Graeme, previously Managing Director of the Stowe Woodward facility in Glenrothes and a well known figure in the paper industry, has taken charge of the RKP joint venture between Regal Rubber Ltd in Lochgelly, which has been active in the rubber industry for almost 30 years, and Kalker Paper in France to produce roller coverings for the UK paper industry, in various grades of rubber, polyurethane and composite materials.  Polyurethane rolls will continue to be covered in the Kalker plant, at La Fleche but rubber rolls will be manufactured in Lochgelly.  Although the paper industry in the UK has undergone significant restructuring in recent years, Graeme believes “There is still a need for a a paper-specific, UK-based roll covering and service company, particularly since two of the biggest, Stowe Woodward and Moseley Rubber, closed their UK manufacturing plants.”

Report by C Geddes, SPRA Hon Secretary          February 2011