Message from the new SPRA President, Barry Coughlan

I am a relative newcomer to our industry body (SPRA) and am both honoured and delighted to be succeeding Fergus Hardie who has been an excellent custodian of our presidency. I am committed to support and develop the Council initiatives that I have witnessed over the last two years.

I realise that the number of companies in our sector may have diminished. However, the innovation, service and enthusiasm has not. Whether from design, development, manufacturing or test to producer, processor, distributor or recycler, our industry is full of professional companies and exceptionally talented people who can and do compete on a global scale. We should continue to promote this at all levels starting with our schools, where the next batch of ‘plastics stars’ will emerge.

My vision for the SPRA over this coming period is to:

• Increase awareness of our organisation
• Promote the continued development of membership
• Develop further our involvement in schools
• Listen and support our members
• Enhance our relationship with the affiliate industry bodies
• Enjoy

I look forward to meeting up with many of our existing members over the coming year and, of course, welcoming the new.

Barry Coughlan, SPRA President June 2011

Barry Coughlan, Chief Operating Officer for Rosti Europe, is based at Rosti UK Ltd at Larkhall near Glasgow, specialist in the injection moulding, assembly and packaging of plastic devices, serving customers in a range of industry sectors including Automotive, Life Sciences, Business Machines, Domestic Appliances and Safety Products.