Plastic bags are an important part of our lives - everything from foodstuff to aggregate for concrete is put in plastic bags for ease of handling.

BaBa Plastics Ltd commissioned three new extrusion machines, plus two in-house printing machines at their new plant at Bakers Wharf, Marine Parade in Southampton, last October.

While most manufacturers of plastic bags seek large quantity orders, BaBa Plastics launched its operation targeting the specialised niche market for small and medium-size enterprises that are seeking quality products coupled with fast turn-around.

Market research identified the demand for the supply of plastic bags and shrink-wrap polythene ranging in thickness from 20 micros to 250 microns in quantities from one hundred kilos to five tonnes.

"Our ability to produce film in any colour and in widths up to 1,500mm has been well received by our customers," said BaBa plastics general manager Robin Peck.

"We identified a niche market and put all our efforts into providing it. Too many manufacturers concentrate on large volume orders with tight margins and have ignored the smaller customer.

"Since we opened, small to medium-sized organisations throughout the UK have been in contact asking us to handle their business. A fast turnaround service means that clients do not have to tie up valuable capital holding vast stocks of plastic bags and wrapping material.

"Demand for our products has increased by over 50 per cent month on month, and to meet this demand we have increased staff from four to 20 working on a threeshift roster, 24 hours a day, Monday to Friday. In March we invested in a fourth extrusion machine to meet the demand."

Managing director Kuldeep Kooner expressed his delight at the business results to date. "We have invested over a third of a million pounds in setting up this business and demand for our products has demonstrated the value of our market research prior to the launch. The plastic used for the manufacture of bags and sheet plastic is supplied as granules. We take our environmental responsibilities very seriously so all plastic waste materials are returned to our suppliers for recycling back into granules."