Recycled compound specialist Luxus is celebrating 60 years of manufacturing excellence.
The UK business is a high-performing thermoplastics provider, playing an integral part in a sustainable supply chain for customers in sectors ranging from automotive to construction, packaging to horticulture.
Now a £36.5-million turnover operation, with dedicated processing, innovation and quality testing facilities at its headquarters in Louth, Lincolnshire, it employs 140 people in the area, with a further 30 at a specialist subsidiary in South Wales.
Established by Ron Tonn in 1965 to provide waste solutions for the burgeoning plastics industry, it has prided itself on a pioneering approach to compound production. The US Army veteran had originally arrived in the UK in the late Fifties to launch the European arm of an American operation. Quickly joined by current managing director Peter Atterby - who has been at Luxus for 55 of the 60 years now celebrated - together they established the first dedicated compounding facility in Louth, attracted by existing industry and export potential offered by the Humber ports.
The early Eighties saw a dedicated laboratory developed to foster innovation, with a state-of-the-art technical centre added in 2014. The significant investment enhanced the ability to re-engineer materials, drive polymer technology and analysis capability in what is one of the largest and most advanced facilities in the UK.
Colour Tone Masterbatch launched in Caerphilly in 2017, winning a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation in 2022 for its work in hard-to-recycle black plastics.
Mr Atterby said: “Celebrating our 60th anniversary is a real opportunity for us to reflect on what has been achieved, and underlines our commitment to quality, our clients and the environment.
“Recycling has rightly become part of everyone’s daily life, but we were well into our journey by the time household targets were introduced in the early Noughties.
“We’re incredibly proud of the leading industry role Luxus plays and the importance our work has. Our unstinting sustainability efforts, innovative technical compounds, and successful projects showcase our dedication.
“A long, strong track record of delivery allows us to speak with authority, share expertise and provides credibility in a competitive sector as we look towards future milestones.”
Staff and suppliers enjoyed a Sixties themed party at The Brackenborough Lakes Resort in Louth, with a live band and magician, to celebrate.
The company now produces 30,000 tonnes of recycled plastic compounds annually, having started with 600 tonnes, then going into the formation of coat hangers and films.
End uses now include automotive internal components (A-surface materials), with a key strand being the lightweighting of car parts to aid fuel efficiency and the electric vehicle transition. Specialist materials for waterless washing machines are also produced.
Luxus’ seventh decade will see it continue to lead the industry as it pushes the boundaries of sustainability in plastic recycling and customer service. The UK’s largest independent recycler is also launching an exciting brand, offering safe, traceable, multi-life solutions. Deodorised polymers are also under development for potential use in FDA applications.
Luxus has also delivered a Department for Energy Security and Net Zero part-funded project to develop cleaner recycling processes.
Company representatives are now looking forward to attending Plastics Recycling Show Europe 2025 in Luxus’ celebratory year.