Press Releases

Doug Bancroft was appointed as Business Development Director of PLASTIKA group

An interview with Mr. Doug Bancroft, Business Development Director at Plastika group.

Doug Bancroft

What do you think are the strengths and weaknesses of Plastika Kromeriz?

There are a number of strengths. Obviously for Europe. Plastika is very well positioned to serve existing markets in Western Europe and emerging markets in Central and Eastern Europe. It has a long history of high quality, and good performance in customer service which makes it very attractive to industry, not only to the automotive trade, but to many industries where many other suppliers are struggling today, both from the performance and financial standpoints.

I think Plastika is well positioned for continuing growth not just organically for existing markets but also through Greenfield operations or possible mergers or acquisitions such as France. In addition, the industry is looking for highly confident, technically capable companies that can provide low cost products without jeopardising quality. I think technically Plastika clearly demonstrates a strong technical capability and an understanding of what customers and the market need by some of the new technologies already embraced, from nitrogen injection moulding to the clean room and painting line.

And at the same time I see the real strength is that the company is small enough, that it is very personal, almost family like. Finally it is a very nimble company, able to move quickly, analysing situations easily, identifying opportunities and taking advantage of that. I think all around it is a well established organisation.

Plastika is in a position today that can take advantage of growing opportunities around the world. I also believe that Plastika's people are working very hard to make a successful business. The people of the company are really what make it. You can buy equipment, you can buy factories, but if you do not have committed people, you will not be successful.

What is the strategy for the Plastika group?

Where do you see the group in a couple of years? We see Plastika continually growing to serve existing and new emerging markets in Eastern Europe. We also see growth of the French operation and we are considering joint ventures in Spain or in that region.

We are working very hard right now to try to finalise a deal with several key customers to possibly launch a new facility in Mexico in 2008. And we think we need to be located in Asia somewhere in the next 24 months. Our customers are telling us they would like to have us in Asia. This is a great opportunity and it is very encouraging to have customers ask us to move forward to set up business in these regions. This is the direction in which we are going. I think in three to five years we will see Plastika double in size through natural organic growth and through new operations.

Doug Bancroft (46)

Mr. Doug Bancroft, Group Business Development Director at Plastika, joined Plastika recently, but has been actively involved for a longer time. He graduated from the University of Ontario in Economics. He lives in Canada and has extensive experience in the automotive industry in various positions with companies such as Magna, Siemens VDO and Sony.

He is married, has 3 children and as he reminds us, his golden retriever is the fourth child. Most of his time he spends working. Some years he travels as much as 500 thousand kilometres a year on business. For the coming years, he is going to split his time between Mexico, North America, Europe and Asia. If he is not working he likes to sail.

Marcela Bradova, Marketing

Last update 17/10/2007

PLASTIKA a.s.
Kaplanova 2830
767 01 Kromeriz
Czech Republic

tel.: +420 573 511 111
plastika@plastika.cz