Plastic injection moulder extends production capacity to 24 hours

Steady increase in production demand throughout 2024 and into 2025 has led Pentagon to make a notable change to its production capacity. For over 20 years the UK-based plastic injection moulder has operated a two-shift pattern, with the factory operating 16 hours a day. However, as of early February 2025, capacity is now across 24 hours.

This is a huge milestone in Pentagon’s 53-year trading history, with demand emanating from the medical (non-cleanroom moulding) and aerospace sectors, both of which continue to grow at pace. Pentagon is a technical injection moulder, with components manufactured on site – typically from engineering-grade thermoplastics – often part of larger assemblies.

Introducing a third production shift will help to ensure that high-volume medical mouldings continue to meet increasing customer demand, while opening capacity on larger presses for new business going forward. The shift will be overseen by one of the groups longest-serving employees, who has been with the organisation since infancy.

Despite this hugely positive step, Pentagon says it will not be without challenges due to changes introduced in the autumn budget and the increased operational cost of running 24 hours. Controlling costs will be vital moving forward.

UK manufacturing services still feel highly under-utilised, although Pentagon says Brexit delivered a positive wave of change in the form of re-shoring and companies and design engineers looking to source UK suppliers. However, there is still a way to go to ensure longevity and continued sector growth.

One of the key areas is the long-running issues of bridging the skills gap, of particular importance to Pentagon. The continued lack of experienced toolmakers and precision engineers is matched by the difficulty of balancing apprenticeships and development with revenue-producing workstreams and resources.

Pentagon prides itself on offering in-house mould tool manufacture and tooling services, an offering that is not readily available from UK injection moulders. This offer gives customers a full turnkey solution for their plastic injection moulding projects and a single point of contact for the life of their products and projects.