Rutland Plastics in new link with DIP

September 03, 2026

New work experience placement on offer for a 2027 finalist

One of the UK’s leading plastic injection moulding companies has joined forces with Design Innovation in Plastics (DIP) to provide a valuable work experience package for a finalist in next year’s competition.

Rutland Plastics, an award-winning specialist of 70 years standing in the industry, is offering the two-week placement to bring one lucky finalist to its superb facility in Rutland, in the East Midlands.  There they will get to see and experience all aspects of the company’s full range of injection moulding services including mouldflow analysis, prototyping, mould-making and the manufacturing process itself.

Rutland Plastics, established in 1956, is an injection moulder of quality bespoke products for a wide variety of industries ranging from utilities to consumer and healthcare. It employs over 160 people at its 6100 sq m factory and has a wide range of moulding machines, including one of the biggest trade moulding machines in the UK.

Technical director, Simon Grainger, said: “We are very proud of what we do and would not have been able to build the business without the support of our talented and enthusiastic workforce.  Supporting young talent through placements, apprenticeships and training is a key part of that and is vitally important for the wider industry here in the UK.  Being involved with DIP fits perfectly with that ethos, so we look forward to being involved with the competition as it progresses.”

DIP chairman, Martin Sixsmith, said: “We are delighted to welcome Rutland Plastics into the DIP fold. The work placement being offered will provide valuable insights about the world of plastics manufacturing, in particular the practical implications of the way products are designed and the manufacturing costs. This is important to us, as we do strive to give as much help as we can to students wishing to make their way into the world of design and manufacture.”

DIP 2027 is currently underway, with the new brief now on the DIP website www.designinnovationplastics.org/ . The competition is open to university undergraduates all over the UK and Ireland.  Entries for the competition will need to be submitted by March 13, 2027, in preparation for preliminary judging on March 27.  

The competition is the longest running of its kind in Europe, and is supported by The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, The Worshipful Company of Horners and headline industry sponsor, Covestro, as well as a range of supporting organisations from the world of design and industry.

Notes to editors

1.     Established in 1985, Design Innovation in Plastics is the longest running student plastics design award in Europe. For more information visit www.designinnovationplastics.org 

2.     The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) is a major UK engineering institution and is the professional body for the advancement of materials, minerals and mining to governments, industry, academia, the public and the professions. For more information visit www.iom3.org

 3.  The Worshipful Company of Horners is one of the oldest livery

companies in the City of London and was formed to regulate the horn-working trade. In 1943 it adopted its modern equivalent, the plastics industry. For more information visit www.horners.org.uk

Headline industry sponsor – Covestro

About Covestro:

Covestro is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-quality polymer materials and their components. With its innovative products, processes and methods, the company helps enhance sustainability and the quality of life in many areas. Covestro supplies customers around the world in key industries such as mobility, building and living, as well as the electrical and electronics sector. In addition, polymers from Covestro are also used in sectors such as sports and leisure, telecommunications and health, as well as in the chemical industry itself. 

The company is geared completely to the circular economy. In addition, Covestro aims to achieve climate neutrality for its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2035, and the Group’s Scope 3 emissions are also set to be climate neutral by 2050. Covestro generated sales of EUR 12.9 billion in fiscal year 2025. At the end of 2025, the company had 46 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 17,600 people (calculated as full-time equivalents). 

Other competition sponsors:

·       Brightworks: an award-winning UK product design and development consultancy dedicated to helping other companies develop the best products for their customers, their markets and their brands

• FANUC UK: a global pioneer in in factory automation and technology leader in computer numeric control machining, robotics and ROBOMACHINE machine tools.

• Innovate Product Design: specialises in helping individuals to protect, develop and commercialise their new product ideas and inventions

• PDD: provides integrated design and innovation skills, working with organisations worldwide to develop novel products, services and business processes that drive revenues and create competitive advantage

·       Sierra 57 Consult a leading accredited training provider to the UK plastics industry

·       Media partners: British Plastics and Rubber, Materials World, Mould Technology, PlastikCity