| |
RAPRA BOOSTS ONLINE SERVICES FOR PLASTICS AND RUBBER
08 September 2006 - Rapra Technology Limited
| Rapra Technology, Europe's leading polymer research and technology organisation, celebrates the New Year with the successful relaunch and redesign of its unique website for the plastics and rubber sectors. |
Rapra Technology, Europe's leading polymer research and technology organisation, celebrates the New Year with the successful relaunch and redesign of its unique website for the plastics and rubber sectors. The new Rapra website now features the full range of Rapra’s products and services, many of which can now be purchased over the Internet via a fully automated and secure single point ordering system. Rapra’s publications, conference and training course places are among the many products now offered for sale in three main currencies (sterling £, euros € and dollars $), with transactions processed securely via the ‘World Pay’ system. Details of Rapra’s wide range of technical services are also readily accessible, with visitors able to place their enquiries quickly and easily, for the immediate attention of one of Rapra’s technical experts. Richard Walton, Rapra Marketing Services Manager, says that ‘within half an hour of our relaunch, we took our first bulk booking for training. Just one week after the relaunch, our website sales were already well into five figures.’ Walton points out that ‘there is a significant demand for Rapra resources online; it remains a mainstream element within our business and we are very pleased that our relaunch and redesign has hit the mark so positively from the outset’. Walton adds that ‘the industry, Rapra members and indeed all browsers can take advantage of all our deals online by visiting www.rapra.net, with early-bird and bulk buying discounts available. James Edlington, the new marketing services assistant at Rapra, has been key in implementing many of the changes to the new website. His appointment is part of Rapra’s ongoing plan to raise staffing by 40% in the next two years. Edlington points out that ‘the Rapra website receives over 80,000 visitors a month, all of whom will now benefit from a rejuvenated and more user-friendly navigational process. Greatly enhanced in-site search facilities now exist and the Rapra site is now a great place to explore specialist interest in plastics, be these testing, analytical or research matters ,or to take up Rapra’s leading services in areas such as Pharmaceutical business, Environmental services or Large Projects.’ ‘In addition to this,’ says Edlington, ‘the Technical Products page will shortly be uploaded, facilitating the online purchase of items such as standard reference materials (sliders, hardness blocks and reference oils), as well as the Scanning Vibrating Needle Curemeter device. Our new shopping cart also automatically adjusts for discounted rates and includes VAT calculations for all products bought online. The new website and the commercial expansion it offers is all part of the expansion of the company as a whole, creating over forty new jobs in the company in the following two years across all levels: including business development roles, technologists, analytical chemists and design engineers. Sales turnover for Rapra Technology is now confirmed at having topped the £9 million barrier for the first time in the company’s history. Rapra's overall headcount was increased by over 10% with 15 people being appointed to key positions in the organisation, and still more set to join the company through 2006.
http://www.rapra.net
About: Rapra Technology Limited
Rapra Technology is Europe’s leading independent plastics and rubber consultancy. Rapra provides comprehensive consultancy, technology and information services for the polymer industry and industries using plastics and rubber in any component, product or production process.
Company Statistics: Formerly the Rubber and Plastics Research Association (RAPRA)
Established 1919
5,000 clients worldwide per annum
2,000 technical projects each year
World class Information Centre
2 sites in the UK
130 staff Working for industry. Rapra provides specialist plastics and rubber technical, information and commercial services for the polymer industry and end-user industries including the automotive, construction, electrical, medical, offshore, packaging and polyurethane sectors. Rapra has a unique mix of on-site expertise and facilities enabling the application of an integrated approach to problem solving. Its capabilities lie in the skills and experience of its people, many of whom are recognised as leading experts in their field. Clients can commission individual services,specialist consultancy or participate in multi-client research projects, funded by EC and UK government and/or industry, to progress research and development of polymer technology and applications. Testing, analysis and calibration services. Rapra’s physical testing, analytical and chemical laboratories are UKAS accredited to provide UKAS certification and test to a range of national and international standards. Numerous physical tests assess material properties such as abrasion, fatigue, impact and stress and their performance in products in particular conditions. Rapra’s analytical and chemical laboratories undertake materials identification and characterisation etc. using a range of advanced chromatographic, spectroscopic and thermal techniques. Information services. Rapra’s technical facilities are complemented by an extensive polymer Information Centre. The Polymer Library is the world’s most comprehensive plastics and rubber information database in the public domain. Available either in hardcopy, on CD-ROM or via the internet, it contains over 850,000 references which are updated every two weeks. Rapra produces a range of publications including Journals, Industrial Analysis Reports, Review Reports and global Directories, detailed in a Publications Catalogue. Technology services. Rapra’s plastics and rubber technical services can prevent, identify or solve problems and improve on or ensure continuing quality. Supported by comprehensive testing, analysis and information facilities, technologists can tackle most polymer related projects. Whilst details of specialist services are available, the following represents Rapra’s core technical expertise: Materials selection & application support
Product design & development
Manufacturing process development
Prototyping & small scale production
Engineering & tooling
Fault & failure diagnosis
Testing & Analysis
Conferences
Rapra brings together leading academics and industrialists in an annual programme of national and international conferences. Renowned for their quality coverage of polymer topics, Rapra conferences are of interest to polymer processors and industry-wide users. Technology Training Courses
Rapra runs an extensive programme of short technology-based training courses covering materials, product design, processing techniques and environmental considerations. Recognised by the Institute of Materials Continuing Professional Development scheme, they aim to enhance in-house skills, help in identifying problems and to recognise potential opportunities. |
More News:
• For September 2006
• From Rapra Technology Limited
• For Research Institute
|
