Local Polymer Industry
The Northern Ireland polymers industry comprises over 80 firms. The NIPA Member Companies and the wider polymer sector have a combined annual turnover in excess of GBP 2.4bn and employ 1 in 6 of the total manufacturing workforce.
The Northern Ireland Polymers Association (NIPA) provides a dynamic proactive forum that represents the industry as a whole. The industry manufactures products using different processing technologies for a range of diverse markets including, packaging, household, construction, medical / healthcare, food and drink, rapid prototyping, horticulture, leisure, utilities, automotive, marine and aerospace.
Serving global markets, and in a global sector that has grown year-on-year for over 30-years with no signs of slowing into the foreseeable future – NIPA has identified several strategically important key challenges facing the local industry, and has recognised the need to work together in order to address these and to combine the resources of the sector in a market led approach to innovation, energy, transport logistics, education and training.
NIPA Members have a keen external and export market focus and view these markets as their main opportunities for growth. Two thirds of NIPA Manufacturing Members either individually exports to over 30 countries or are a valued part of a MNE (multi national enterprise). One in eight have received the Queens Award for Enterprise in recognition for these efforts. Most of the companies started off as home grown indigenous businesses now supplying and servicing a global market.