BM Polyco is a privately owned company founded in 1979 by Leslie Blustin and Greg Murray
(the B and M in BM Polyco).
The original concept of the Company was to provide private label household rubber gloves to UK supermarkets. At the time, the market was totally dominated by one supplier who had 96% market share, the pattern of distribution was changing from pharmacies to supermarkets and there was beginning to be a strong demand by consumers for private labels. Greg and Leslie set up BM Polyco to supply that gap in the market.
Polyco’s principles have always been based on Innovation, Quality and Service and that is still what differentiates the Company today from both local and multinational competitors.
Over the past 30 years, the Company has diversified from its starting point in the Consumer market and moved into both the Industrial and Medical markets, supplying customers as diverse as Nissan and the National Health Service.
In addition to expanding into different industry sectors, the Company has now grown from its UK base, with the development of Polyco Iberia in 2002 as well as now selling to most countries in Continental Europe.
In 2007, BM Polyco relocated to new purpose built premises in Enfield and also recruited a Managing Director, Mark Holdaway, to lead the Company in its next stage of development.
In 2009 BM Polyco entered into a joint venture partnership with HPC Healthline. ‘PH Healthcare’ (PHH) took responsibility for the joint Medical Examination glove businesses of both companies as well as providing a logistics service for BM Polyco’s other Medical products.
Consumer
BM Polyco is the UK’s largest supplier of household and disposable Consumer gloves, with a market share in excess of 60%.
Customers include all the major consumer grocery multiples as well as the Catering and Food Service industry via national wholesalers.
BM Polyco has developed a strong branded presence in the UK with brands such as Bizzybee and Finesse within its portfolio.
It has a strong track record of product innovation bringing many new developments in to the market.
In addition to household, disposable, gardening and DIY gloves, BM Polyco is a key player in the cleaning cloths market with nonwoven all purpose cloths, sponge cloths and microfibre cloths.
With the recent acquisition of ELHC, Polyco has a strong presence in the Consumer Healthcare sector with cotton wool (organic and Fair Trade), impregnated wipes, and a range of first aid products.
Industrial
In 1989 the Company started its major push into the industrial market. The approach was to select the right personnel, develop the best possible products and to support them with the same level of service and technical advice given to our major consumer customers – a level of service not previously found in the industrial sector. We take pride, for example, in being able to steer our customers through the intricacies of EC regulations in a way our multi-national rivals cannot better.
Today BM Polyco is the largest supplier of branded hand protection in the UK and is making significant inroads into the international PPE market. Polyco Reflex has become the No. 1 brand in the general handling sector despite major competition from other brands and distributor private labels.
In 2004 BM Polyco won the Frost & Sullivan Industry Award for Innovation. This was as a result of the launch of Blade Runner, a product that set new standards in levels of cut protection and comfort. This was followed in 2009 by the BSIF Innovation Award for the Metallica glove.
Medical
In 1996 the Company identified the medical and health service sectors as a major area of growth and in 1999 a new dedicated Medical Division was launched.
BM Polyco quickly become a key player in the medical examination glove and surgeon’s glove markets.
In 2009 BM Polyco’s examination glove business into the NHS was given a huge boost by the establishment of PHH, a joint venture company providing low cost logistics and high service levels to the NHS.
In 2010 PHH became PH Medisavers with the acquisition of the Medisavers business and is now the largest supplier of exam gloves to the UK medical market.
People & Processes
Polyco believes very strongly in the steady development of the business through the people that work in it.
BM Polyco has developed and continues to invest in its comprehensive IT and communication infrastructure to support the business processes.
The Company’s commitment to the continuous training and development of its people was recognised in July 2000 when BM Polyco was accredited with the Investors in People standard.
Technology Centre
The new Technology Centre opened in 1996 and it is equipped with a variety of analytical equipment which allows testing to a range of EN and ISO standards. The Technology Centre provides testing services mainly for BM Polyco products but also works with customers and factories to ensure optimal quality and performance.
The highly trained technical staff in the Technology Centre engage with manufacturing in evaluation of production processes, product assessment and the development of new products. Senior members participate on EN Standards Committees for Personal Protective Equipment and the Medical Devices Directive.
In 1999 the Technology Centre was accredited by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) as a laboratory which complies with the national testing standard - a rare accolade indeed.
1999 saw the opening of a new microbiology laboratory to support the technical needs of the Medical and Healthcare divisions and further testing capabilities are continually being added.
All manufacturing sites are regularly audited. Incoming goods are quality-controlled and our large Quality Assurance Department is well equipped for product testing.
Innovation Centre
The Innovation Centre, which is part of the Technology Centre, was opened in January 2003, showing the Company’s commitment to new product development. It has led to the launch of many next generation hand protection products giving the wearer ‘enhanced manual dexterity’ and the ability to work faster and safer. The centre has the capability of developing and producing prototype gloves using a variety of different manufacturing technologies.
Acquisition
The Company made its first acquisition with the purchase of John Ward (Stourbridge) in April 2003. This provided BM Polyco with a strengthened PVC range, and additional critical mass.
In 2010 the Company acquired the industrial glove division of Brosch Direct Ltd. This presented an exciting opportunity for Polyco to build on its leadership position in industrial markets with the addition of the Bodyguards brand and a greatly enhanced range of disposable gloves. At the same time our joint venture company PHH acquired the Medisavers business. The acquisition takes PH Medisavers from the number three position in the medical market to market leadership.
In 2011 the Company acquired Euro Link Health Care Ltd (ELHC) to strengthen its position in the Consumer Healthcare market.
