Jul 17 2007
Cogent SSC has appointed Tony Pringle as Skills Director for the polymers industry. Tony has spent over 35 years in the plastics industry and has extensive knowledge and experience in “turn-key” plastics processing projects in East, Central and West Africa as well as the United Kingdom.
He is a time-served apprentice in Electrical & Mechanical Engineering (HND equivalent), and served his apprenticeship in Kenya, where he grew up. His plastics experience covers technical applications in blow and injection moulding as well as extrusion of pipes in both HDPE and uPVC and also film extrusion.
During his time in Africa he was responsible for the representation of many of Europe’s leading plastics machinery manufacturers in the African Union area and has extensive experience with Governments and National agencies.
In 1998 after leaving Africa Tony joined Blowspeed Ltd (now Flambeau EuroPlast Ltd), as General Manager of its factory in Rushden, Northamptonshire. He was appointed a Director of Blowspeed in 1992, and became the Managing Director of Flambeau EuroPlast Ltd in May 2001.
Commenting on his appointment, Tony said: “The UK polymer industry makes a tremendous contribution. It is a sector in transition and increasingly needs higher level skills to compete and innovate.
“I will support Cogent’s work with polymer companies to help them collectively address the skills challenges they face. This includes the development of careers opportunities, reducing skills shortages and closing skills gaps to help polymer employers compete in the global knowledge and skills-based economy.”
Tony is a Senior Member of the Society of Plastics Engineers, and the Institute of Directors, and was also a member of the Plastics and Rubber Institute and the then Institute of Materials. He currently sits on the UK and Ireland committee of the Society of Plastics Engineers.
Tony is married to Veronica and has three adult children.