As a company, the RPC Group is Europe’s leading manufacturer of rigid plastic packaging. As part of this group, the RPC Tedeco- Gizeh site at Kenfig specialises and supplies the vending cup and portion pack industry. Proud to be the only UK based manufacturing site, the Kenfig operation retains a market leading position.

What is interesting about this company is that despite its size and success in the market place, it continues to deal with its customers on a professional yet friendly and personal level. It has made a conscious decision to keep its development de-centralised, to ensure that the business can fully support the specific and at times local demands of the vending industry and to make the most of its in-depth knowledge of specific production technologies, which of course takes us to Kenfig….

The first question we had to ask was: “How did RPC Tedeco-Gizeh come to be the leading manufacturer of plastic vending cups in the UK with such an impressive client list?” General manager David Lowe explains: “We were a supplier in the early years when plastic cups came into the marketplace - the site at Kenfig opened 20 years ago and in recent years has focused on a drive to achieve continuous improvement in all areas relating to manufacturing, delivery and customer service.” UK Sales Manager Adrian Pratt explains: “It’s about the total service the operator provides to the customer.” David continues: “Customers want TOTAL value - they are looking for something they can purchase that will go into the machine and come out again, they don’t want to have to think any more about it: they know the cup is going to be there and it’s going to be of a good quality. Equally important is that should any issues occur then customers need a business capable to respond with pace and efficiency only achievable from a UK base.”

The aim is simple – to provide a great service. None of this would be possible, however, without the hard work and determination of the team. “Expectations about quality and service are at the top of the list. We have a collaborative relationship with our customers with proven in depth knowledge of their business, so can bring different ideas and concepts to them. The Kenfig business is equally at home serving the ‘blue chip’ environment as we are driving into a yard to meet a customer in a smaller vending operation.” Leading brands such as Mars and Nestlé to SMEs enjoy the same first class service. Adrian explains: “The flexibility that is inherent in our business allows that to happen. It’s about functionality and quality - offering adaptability in our customer service levels.”

Commenting on the autonomous nature of the RPC Tedeco-Gizeh site, David tells us: “We are strategically positioned here in the UK. What our customers find is that they need a supplier they can trust – good news or bad. We don’t make a million promises; we look to provide assurance in our day to day operations. We work heavily with our customers in terms of ideas, developments and initiatives behind the scenes.” Adrian agrees that it is this that makes RPC such an open, honest and proactive company to deal with: “The UK is a primary marketplace and because we are local, we can react that much more quickly,” he says.

2012 represents something of a new era for RPC Tedeco-Gizeh - Bob Oldorne, the company’s longest serving sales professional, well known and liked within the industry, retired in November 2011. Despite helping the company to enjoy enormous success over the years, Bob didn’t want too much fuss, choosing instead to say goodbye to each of his customers personally in the months and weeks leading up to his departure. In keeping with RPC’s commitment to providing a consistently good service, Adrian explained how he has picked up where Bob left off: “All too often an account manager changes and the first a customer knows about it is when a new one turns up. We wanted the transition to be seamless, so we worked together for 6 months before Bob left, with accounts gradually being moved across in that time. We had to make sure that the customers were comfortable with the transition from Bob to me and thankfully they are as relaxed now as when Bob was here.”

Bob said himself that he was leaving at a very exciting time for the company - with David on board; it’s no coincidence that there have been some significant changes in the past 2 years. No stranger to the Industry, David has been in polymer product manufacturing for over 25 years; he joined RPC 4 years ago and has been at the helm of the Kenfig site for over two years. “What we benefit from is a fantastic team, our achievements are not due to me…they’re due to the people I have around me,” he says, adding: “Changes needed to be made to take the site forward – and these have been rewarded by gaining supplier awards, gaining new customers, and renewing existing contracts of valued customers.”

Adrian agrees: “We have a terrific blend of people. If you stay too long in any environment you begin to believe yourself. Just because you have been doing something right for a period of time you can’t stand still in the marketplace, you have to move forward and keep evolving. It is the holistic approach to implementing these changes that achieves success.”

The company has invested in the development of its people as a priority, but in parallel to this the business has also invested in its services, machinery and tooling. ‘’Fundamentally it is both people and technology that are needed to do a good job. We need a healthy foundation; a healthy service. Our new machinery represents a multi million pound investment – it’s all been done for a reason.” David insists: ‘’our staff, including myself need kept on their toes. Our policy is that the site should never be more than 5 minutes away from a visit from any customer. We are not the sort of business that floods the area with agency staff to clean up ahead of a customer visit. We cannot allow the plant condition to drift and ensure that we maintain a standard that is ready for an inspection at any time. Those are the standards that our customers expect.”

An Employee Forum group was introduced two years ago, with one of its roles being to nominate a charity for the site to support. In 2010 it was the British Heart Foundation, and in 2011 Macmillan Cancer Support. Through all of its activities last year the staff raised c£4000 for Macmillan (read the story in full in our news section); such is the company’s determination to create a community spirit and give something back. It’s clear that Adrian will be a great success in his new role and from our time with the Kenfig team that the site is placed where it should be - out in front as market leader.

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this

---