PLASTIC mouldings coatings company Interplas Coatings NE has built its workforce in Sunderland to 30 from a standing start – and is expanding its premises to cope with demand.

The business, part of the larger Midlands-based Interplas group, set up its first Northern factory last summer at Pallion industrial estate and is now expanding its 35,000sqft premises by a third because of its rapid growth.

The company invested £800,000 in setting up the Wearside factory and spending £200,000 on expansion. The Sunderland site is now on course for sales of £1.6m in its first year of operation and recruited additional workers to allow a second shift to start.

Plant manager Phil Stebbings said: “When I began, it was me and some orange boxes at a derelict site.

“Within four months, there were 14 of us working in a comprehensively fitted out plant with two paint cells in operation, clean room, laboratory and warehouse.

“We have since won contracts for interior parts with Range Rover, and the new Range Rover Sport due to launch this autumn, as well as the interior paint finishes for the Victoria Beckham Evoque edition, which includes a technically complex paint finish in high gloss piano black.

“During the year, we have also worked with Honda as a third tier supplier for the company’s new CRV, and successfully bid for contracts with companies outside the automotive sector such as Brother Industries, working with them on equipment which produces ID cards.”