New jobs vow as plastics firms merge

The Omega Group says it aims to increase its headcount from 80 to more than 100 people.

The move comes after the amalgamation of Omega Plastics, which has bases in Hartlepool and Blyth, Northumberland, and Signal Plastics, in Washington, Wearside.

Bosses say the expanded company will deliver turnover of more than £9m next year.

They added both firms will retain their trading names and continue providing customers with production tooling and plastic injection moulding services.

Under the changes, Omega Group will be led by Dave Crone, who will work as group managing director.

He will be supported by Gary Powner, Omega Plastics’ managing director; Alan Franklin, Signal Plastics’ managing director, and Julian Jamieson, operations director at Signal.

Mr Crone said: “Both our businesses had proved successful in their markets.

“However, there were sufficient complementary overlaps in products and processes to make an alliance almost inevitable.

“Omega Plastics will continue to provide first-class design, tooling, moulding and assembly with the added benefit of high volume moulding by Signal.”

Omega Plastics was formed in 2006 and was originally based at Team Valley, in Gateshead.

In 2007, the company moved into a 10,000sq ft factory in Blyth, which it still uses today alongside a sister base in Hartlepool.

Since its launch in 2007, Signal has moved three times.

In January next year, it will switch to a 42,000sq ft base in Washington.

Mr Franklin, added: “Like Omega Plastics, our business has experienced sustained growth in a relatively short period.

“The merger has provided the stability we need to complete our latest move to a much larger site and to make further investments in the plant and machinery that will increase our production capability.

“We’re also aiming to create more than 20 jobs over the next year and together with Omega we will be sharing best practices and offering improved career development opportunities to our workforce.”