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B&C Plastics - Continuing its innovation journey with 3D printing technology
B&C Plastics specialises in plastic injection moulding and toolmaking for a variety of industries including homeware, mining, building and construction and electronics. It has an extensive capability of turning design ideas into prototypes and market-ready products using a sophisticated range of machinery and processes.
Since its purchase by two Directors in 2006, the company’s focus has been on building strong relationships with customers, providing a rapid response to new requirements and offering innovative solutions. This focus has enabled B&C Plastics to quadruple its customer base and turnover by concentrating on its key unique selling points of superior customer service and product quality.
Always looking to improve, and a strong advocate for innovation, the company has engaged with a number of innovation programs in the past to remain at the cutting edge of what it does. These programs include Innovation Coaching, a joint initiative of the Australian Institute for Commercialisation (AIC) and Queensland Government’s Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI).
The program assists SMEs with innovation strategy, knowledge transfer, commercialisation advice, access to networks and referrals to specialists. In 2009 the AIC supported B&C Plastics to grow the business through business model innovation and developing additional revenue streams. The program also assisted the company to more effectively manage intellectual property (IP) and to identify and attract government funding to support further growth.
Since completing the program, B&C Plastics has continued to grow, acquire new machinery and improve quality standards, having recently begun the application process for ISO9001 and ISO14001 accreditation.
In its ongoing desire to grow and improve, the company looks for new opportunities and ways to innovate by scanning the environment for new ideas in Europe, North America and Asia as well as closer to home.
B&C Plastics recently identified some UK-based technology which will complement and expand upon B&C Plastics’ existing activities.
The technology involves a new three dimensional printing process that the B&C Plastics team has now brought to Australia, with exclusive rights to use it here and in New Zealand. The technology involves surface decorative technology and a sublimation printing process.
The B&C Plastics team have created a sister company, iPersonalised, to focus specifically on the new technology, working with a range clients to create customised products for single and mass production.
Royston Kent, of B&C Plastics and iPersonalised is delighted with the feedback so far:
"We've shown the new 3D printing process to a number of existing customers, as well as potential customers at trade shows, and the response has been phenomenal. From mobile phone covers to fishing reels, the way this technology can be used is endless and our customers are suggesting even more ways this unique process can be applied!
We can print on a range of surfaces including steel, plastic, glass and ceramic and we already have our first orders".
To make purchasing one-off items as easy as possible for the consumer, the iPersonalised website will allow certain items to be selected and paid for completely online, such as mobile phone covers:
"We aim to provide a straightforward way for customers to select an image they would like to use, and to select the medium they would like it printed on and to complete the transaction online quickly and efficiently" says Royston.
A collaborative approach to doing business is instrumental to the B&C Plastics and the iPersonalised team. One collaboration being developed at iPersonalised is working with local designers to encourage them to submit designs to be used by prospective customers.
Royston sees the new venture as an ideal way to increase the value provided to clients:
"Our sister company will have something to offer our existing B&C Plastics clients, while new clients who come to us via iPersonalised may also have the need for B&C Plastics products and services".
It also offers the opportunity for additional revenue streams through the development of a new business model around the exclusive distribution licence for the technology in Australia and New Zealand
iPersonalised is now fully operational and the fully transactional website will go live on 1 May 2011. This will be followed by an official company launch on 16 May.
The new company and its technology demonstrate the desire by the team to continually improve and evolve the value proposition offered to customers.
Denise Raybould, Senior Commercialisation Consultant at the Australian Institute for Commercialisation, worked with the team via the AIC’s Innovation Coaching program:
"The team is a great example of a client we’ve given innovation support to and who have run with it and built on what they’ve learnt. They are always looking for better and more innovative ways of doing things and this is paying dividends for them in business growth, new product development and in the new markets they are reaching out to".
www.injectionplasticmoulding.com.au
To find out more about this innovative new technology, contact Royston Kent at iPersonalised.
To find out more about the AIC’s Innovation Coaching program, visit our website or e-mail us at info@ausicom.com.
Photo one - Example of the 3D printing technology used by iPersonalised on masks and mobile phone covers:
Photo two - Example of the 3D printing technology on mobile photo covers:
Photo three - Example of the 3D printing technology on a rifle handle:
We have been with B&C plastics since Royston and Bob took the reins some 3-4 years ago. B&C have designed
injection moulding tools to our specifications for over 20 product lines and supply us with a continuous stream of plastics which are used in our product and exported globally. Staying on shore and particularly with B&C has proved to be a very smart management and fiscal move. Their co-operation, liaison, reliability, communication and willingness to accommodate change far outweigh any perceived savings one might achieve using resources off shore. Not to say B&C are not competitive, they are, but the quality and reliability from the B&C team are second to none.
Best Regards,
managing director
Roger
I have had dealings with B&C for the past 5 or so years, and the service and response to any given problem is truly fabulous. I design machinery for a living, and plastics and associated materials form a very important part of the design process. Most important to the process is, I find, the need to obtain advice and assurances that a certain design is possible, and this is often required very early in the design process. I have found that B&C Plastics are very capable of this, and it saves many days , even weeks in design work.
Their early evaluation of the design and how it might be cast in what product has been close to faultless. This is, in my opinion, what sets them apart from the typical toolmaker who often requires detailed drawings before you can get past the front door.
Their tool making expertise has been very good, allowing and preempting the shrinkage rates and distortion that will occur with many moulding procedures.
Very Very impressed with your entire business and service. Regards Paul Willett, Managing Director,
I am writing to endorse and highlight B&C plastics .Bob & Royston have provided us with fantastic service right from the first contact , besides being professional and friendly they have made themselves available to us , which can be very reassuring .
Our line of work is in commercial construction, so time lines and installation schedules are tight & limited. Taking this into account Bob &Royston not only took the projects on but created working drawings & helped with design issues together with managing to supply us the finished product before the due date, enabling us latitude to complete our manufacture. In closing I can do nothing but recommend B&C plastics to anyone that is in the market for their services. Dealing with them is easy & you can be confident of the service & outcome you require which makes them a perfect choice to help grow & improve product lines & productivity.
Yours thankfully
director
Shaun
I have had a long business relationship with B&C Plastics and have always been happy with their service and expertise. Since taking over the business a few years ago, Royston and Bob have worked hard to take the company to another level. Their commitment to service, quality and customer satisfaction is honest and real. If you have need of injection mouldings look no further.
Brad
Managing Director
As manufacturers of the Odalog Gas Logger and Gas Detector range, Thermofisher Scientific, like our customers, demand only the highest quality and accuracy from our high-end gas instruments. Our instruments meet the needs of their industry, whether in a rugged underground mining environment or in the corrosive wastewater monitoring, so we need to be sure that the plastic parts that house our compact electronics are up to the job. At B&C, our extremely high standards are completely understood and catered for with high quality, precision and repeatability of our 'unconventional' plastic mouldings - even in small batches. With the experience, technical advice and superior customer service B&C offer, we wouldn't consider going anywhere else.
Chris Thomas
Design Engineer (Mechanical Engineer / Industrial Designer)
I have to compliment you, and all others of your company - and I don’t hand out compliments freely. As you might expect, in looking for a company to do this work for us, I contacted multiple Australian companies who advertise on the net claiming a high tech capability for tooling and production of prototype runs. All other replies I received demonstrated incompetence (at least in communication) or just plain disinterest.
You replied with intelligent communication and followed up with a phone call. Subsequently you have been most courteous in all contacts with me, and have demonstrated a high level of competence in the quality of the samples received today. Thus, in my view, B&C sets a benchmark to which others should aspire. May your company enjoy well deserved success.
Geoffrey Wickham A.O.
Bioengineer
