A PLASTICS firm is creating new jobs and undergoing major expansion after completing its ninth acquisition in ten years.

Data Plastics, in Station Lane, Witney, has seen its turnover soar, with managers confidently predicting it will reach £3.5m this year, up almost 40 per cent on 2006.

The firm has also taken on seven staff this year, taking its workforce to more than 50, and it is looking for three more to fill senior positions.

Managing director, Joe Reeve, said the firm had actually profited from the recession in the UK plastics industry.

He added: "When we started, there were about 5,500 dealers in the UK, but now there are 780. We have grown by buying out other companies, but we have also managed to grow organically."

The latest acquisition is York-based Hi-Tech Mouldings, which will bring another 1,500 customers to Data Plastics.

As with all the companies it takes over, production is immediately switched to Witney.

Data Plastics manufactures a huge variety of plastic components, from parts for aircraft ejector seats to documents trays for offices.

A key customer is technology company 3M, which recently placed an order that will require further expansion of the 25,000sq ft factory.

Production has been stepped up to six days a week, 24 hours a day, and a third shift has been added to cope with the demand.

But the expansion has not been at the expense of the environment, with the company working closely with the Carbon Trust to cut energy costs. It has recently installed a new lighting system, and replaced five moulding machines.

Mr Reeve added: "We are at the stage where we are incredibly busy, which is something we have been working towards for the last 17 years.

"All we have got to do now is persuade people to work on a Sunday!"

Source:Witney Gazette