Monmouth MP David Davies has been learning how chemicals are made for coatings and inks, plastics and everyday products such as matchsticks during a visit to a new state-of-the-art facility in Portskewett, which is the European headquarters for Simpsons UK Ltd.
Mr Davies spent a morning with the dye and pigment manufacturers last week, enjoying an extensive tour of the company’s factories.
He was joined by Tom Bowtell, chief executive of the British Coatings Federation (BCF), the trade association representing the interests of the decorative, industrial and powder coatings, printing inks and wallcovering industries.
Established in 1999, Simpsons is part of the multinational Indian conglomerate JJT Group (Roha Group) and a member of the BCF. The company employs 40 people as its Portskewett base on the outskirts of Caldicot.
It is one of the leading suppliers of dyes, pigments and pearl pigments, and lab reagents in UK and worldwide markets.
Roha UK Ltd also manufactures world-class natural and synthetic colours for food, cosmetics, and animal feed colouring.
“It was a great experience to see manufacturing in action and it’s fantastic that Simpsons are based in Monmouthshire,” Mr Davies said.
“Simpsons are one of those rare success stories where manufacturing has been brought from India to the UK. They are carrying on the tradition of British manufacturing and make a vital contribution to both the local and UK economy.
“Simpsons export their products all over the world and I am determined to defend those SMEs who are subject to burdensome regulations such as the EU’s Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH).”
Vikas Modi, general manager and director at Simpsons (industrial colour division), and Lucy Bridge, technical manager at Roha (food colour division), added: “Everyone at Simpsons and Roha is delighted that Mr Davies came to visit the factories and took time to discuss the concerns of our industry.”
Pic cap 1: (L-R) Vidyut Mehta, regulatory affairs and quality manager at Simpsons; David Davies MP; Vikas Modi, general manager and director at Simpsons (industrial colour division); Tom Bowtell, chief executive of the British Coatings Federation.
Pic cap 2: (L-R) Vikas Modi, general manager and director at Simpsons (industrial colour division); David Davies MP; Lucy Bridge, technical manager at Roha (food colour division); Vidyut Mehta, regulatory affairs and quality manager at Simpsons; Tom Bowtell, chief executive of the British Coatings Federation.