A PLASTICS company that develops products for the caravan industry is looking to expand, creating a handful of new jobs.

Primex Plastics Limited, based at Aycliffe Business Park in County Durham, supply its plastic sheets to Bailey - the UK’s leading manufacturer of caravans.

The company, which employs 55 staff at its UK base, also develops plastics which can be used for a variety of products, including parts for the automotive industry, children’s outdoor toys and portable toilets.

Gary Clement, manufacturing manager at Primex Plastics, said the company is looking to increase its workforce by five or six in the coming months.

“We have a number of contracts in the pipeline that are very promising” he said.

“We are looking to increase our production capacity, beginning in the new year, and this will allow us to grow our existing lines.”

Mr Clement said the company is benefiting from the post-Brexit tumble in the value of the pound – mainly due to the amount of products Primex Plastics export.

“At the moment it is basically an advantage for us.

“We buy all our raw materials in euros and because 60 to 70 percent of our exports are in the Eurozone, it has had a positive effect.

“We have been growing significantly over the last four years, and we hope that will continue.”

However, Mr Clement added the company would have to see “how long it takes” for the full implications of Brexit and the falling pound to become clear, before it could be certain of the effects.

Primex Plastics Limited was established in 1998 and is a subsidiary of USA based Primex Plastics Corporation.

Mike Cramer, Primex Plastic’s Corporation USA president, recently visited the company’s Newton Aycliffe site to discuss its future plans.

“I am very pleased with what I have seen whilst visiting the UK – the management team and the staff at Primex have done a fantastic job and the plant is performing well” he said.

“The future of Primex in the UK is very bright and we have made some plans for the foreseeable future” he added.

The company sponsors Renault UK Clio Cup driver Max Coates, and Mr Clement explains how the relationship came about with the Northallerton driver, which began officially at the start of this year.

“He lives in the same village, and I know his father” he said.

The Renault UK Clio Cup is a support class to the British Touring Car Championships.