Dragon Plastics to breath life into Riverside acquisition

The business – now trading as Riverside Packaging – is owned by Dragon's newly created associate company Gwalia Plastics.

Both Dragon and Riverside are located at the Treforest Industrial Estate in Pontypridd, South Wales. But plans are afoot to create an integrated plant on the Dragon site.

According to Dragon managing director Rod Parker, who is also a director of the new company, the reasoning behind the purchase is to take advantage of the complementary trading opportunities.

"Riverside customers will be able to rely upon a financially secure bottle supplier with enhanced design and development capabilities and up-to-the-minute closure technology from Dragon Plastics," said Parker.

Riverside mainly produces bottles for the pharmaceutical and automotive additive markets. 

Last October it won a contract to make 250ml and 500ml bottles for a new range of anti-bacterial handwashes being produced by Yorkshire-based soap manufacturer John Drury & Co.

It is not presently known if all jobs at Riverside have been secured following the acquisition.

Dragon has said it intends to invest 'substantially' in new technology and equipment for the bottle business. It has also applied for a grant from the Welsh National Assembly.

Graham McKenzie, previously sales and marketing director at Riverside Plastics, will continue with the new company as business development manager, while Rod Parker and Dragon chairman Ian Parker are both directors.

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