Steve Thomson Appointed Managing Director of ARBURG Ltd.

ARBURG Ltd. has announced that sales director Steve Thomson will be appointed the new Managing Director following Colin Tirel’s retirement at the end of November. Colin has worked for ARBURG Ltd. for 27 years, serving 20 years as Managing Director.

Steve Thomson joined ARBURG Ltd. as Sales Director in September 2024 from an OEM medical devices manufacturer and brings more than 28 years’ experience in the moulding industry to ARBURG Ltd. at an exciting time for the company, as it expands its aftermarket service and machine sales are increasing. This industry experience is highly regarded and places him at the front of the selection process.

Steve’s career began with a four-year plastics and materials apprenticeship at Hotpoint in Peterborough, which led to a bachelor’s degree in polymer science. In a 34-year career, Steve has worked for moulding and ancillary companies in the UK and abroad, a French tier one automotive supplier, a heating product manufacturer in Ireland, a hot runner supplier, Mold Masters, and a large medical devices company.

“I am delighted that ARBURG has put its faith in me to lead the UK and Ireland business,” Steve says. “ARBURG is a world-leading brand, synonymous with quality and high values in the plastics industry. I have been so impressed with the company’s training, high quality, detail and pride that comes from its family-ownership values out of Lossburg, Germany, and pervades through all the products, training and people.”

He adds: “Building on an outstanding foundation laid by Colin and my predecessor, the late Simon Wrighton, I now want to grow the brand, our customer base and our expanding service business to be the leading IMM company in the UK and Ireland. Aspirational quality and service at an affordable price.”

Colin Tirel joined ARBURG in 1998 as sales manager and was promoted to Sales Director in 2002. He has been Managing Director since 2005. In July this year he announced his retirement from the company. He has worked in the plastics industry for 47 years.

Colin says, “I am extremely pleased for Steve, who is a hugely capable and professional manager, and a great person. He has very deep experience across the plastics industry from all sides; moulding machinery manufacturers, ancillaries, and from the customer side, which is so helpful to ARBURG as it seeks to grow. I know I am leaving the helm of ARBURG Ltd in safe hands. Steve, of course, will be supported by our experienced and committed team, many of whom have been with ARBURG for more than 10 years.”

Since 1998, Colin has led the Warwick-based plastics technology company through massive changes in both the industry and the technological base of ARBURG machines and systems; from an analogue, paper-based industry into the fully digitalised world run by platforms like ALS and arburgXworld. He has navigated the company through machine and feedstock shortages, inflation and high interest rates, a financial crisis, recessions, the Covid pandemic, as well as all the normal challenges of running a business.

“I have experienced pretty much everything you could imagine in terms of business challenges and have been privileged to work with many leading industry professionals,” Colin says. “I have been very fortunate to have had the strong backing of our parent company in Germany and the support of the staff at ARBURG Ltd. I would like to thank all my colleagues for their help and commitment over the years.”

He adds, “To our UK and Irish customers, I sincerely thank those of you that have continued to support our company throughout those many years.”

Commenting on the future direction of the company, Steve concludes  “There are many things I want to achieve at ARBURG. “For example, Alex Gall our After Sales Manager and his team are building an outstanding service and aftermarket division. Customers want more life and capacity from their machines, and, with training and more digital technology, we can help them achieve this. Also, this company is leading the plastics industry with sustainable practices. I want to drive this in the UK and Ireland, promoting ways to lower energy costs and to use more recyclate feedstock and carbon measurement.”

For more information please contact Colin at ARBURG Ltd.:  +44 (0) 1926 457 000 or Colin_Tirel@arburg.com

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