COBA Plastics Blog

Emanuel Sarikas Joins COBA

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:06:00 0000

COBA has pleasure in officially announcing the appointment of Emanuel Sarikas as Account Manager – Germany.

Emanuel’s role will be specifically to support our automotive seating customers in Germany, operating out of COBA’s German sales office.

With a career background predominantly involved with automotive engineering and sales, having previously worked for Bosch in the automotive aftermarket and for Faurecia as a sales engineer, Emanuel brings with him a sound knowledge of the industry to ably assist all our customers in this area. He officially joined COBA last November 2009.

“COBA is delighted to welcome Emanuel to our team,” says Nick Wood, European Sales Manager – COBA Plastics Ltd. “His experience, coupled with the fact that he will be operating out of Germany, is a great asset to COBA and our German based customers alike.”

Having spent time in our UK headquarters and manufacturing facility familiarising himself with the business, Emanuel is now looking forward to introducing himself to our customers.

“Although I have only been employed by COBA for just over a month, I am very impressed with how the company operates and the high standards it implements across all departments. I am enjoying being a member of the COBA team and look forward to developing new business opportunities in Germany,” says Emanuel.

Emanuel shares German/Greek nationality and lives with his wife in Southern Germany, near Nuremberg. For leisure, he enjoys visiting his relatives in Greece and especially the warm Mediterranean Sea! His hobbies also include skiing in the Alps and playing football.

Emanuel can be contacted on either office telephone +49 2161 2945407 or mobile: +49 1735 914024 email: esarikas@cobaplastics.com

COBA International on a Roll Following the Acquisition of Copely Delvelopments Ltd

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:30:11 0000

COBA INTERNATIONAL has expanded its business portfolio yet again following the recent acquisition of Copely Developments Ltd based at Thurmaston Lane, Leicester.

Since its formation in 1973, Copely Developments has become a frontrunner in the design and manufacture of thermo-plastic tube, hose and strip products under the ownership of Chairman, Clifford Cooper and Managing Director, Brian Copely.

Under the COBA International umbrella, Copely Developments sits neatly beside COBAs established plastic extrusion manufacturing businesses located in the UK, Slovakia and South Africa, and is poised for significant change and growth in what will mark an exciting new era for the company and its 70+ employees.

The move to sell the business follows the decision by both partners to retire and their subsequent approach to COBA International, a company with whom Copely Developments had enjoyed a close association for many years.

Speaking of his decision to sell the company, Brian Copely comments:

"We felt the time was right to step down from the business and we have every confidence that Copely Developments is in the safest of hands under the directorship of COBA International, who can now steer the company to greater things in the future to realise its full potential."

Copely Developments enjoys global recognition for its pioneering development and innovation. These strengths have over the years provided a platform for strong partnerships working with customers both in the UK and overseas, culminating in the development of many niche products, such as the design and manufacture of medical gas hose and tubing, for which Copely is the market leader.

Products are also supplied to customers in the fields of automotive, aviation, agriculture, building and construction, medical, fire protection, drink vending/water, as well as general industrial and energy conservation.

Commenting on this latest acquisition, COBA Internationals Managing Director, Mark Cooke says:

"Copely Developments Ltd represents yet another massive opportunity for the COBA International group of companies and we are looking forward to making significant changes to the business in the short term which we hope will be well received by the companys long standing and loyal client base.

"The COBA recipe for success has been based on a combination of excellent employee team working, innovative product development and ongoing investment in new technology.   It is our intention to cascade these principles through to Copely Developments which should see the business go from strength to strength in the coming years. "

The COBA Group now increases its employee numbers to just under 400 with a turnover in excess of £30m, and remains open to other business opportunities that may arise in the near future.

The acquisition officially came into effect on 31 December 2009 in a transaction overseen by Leicester based solicitors Harvey Ingram.

Aldo has Designs on COBA

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:13:37 0000

Aldo Viana has joined COBA Plastics Ltd in the newly created role of Research & Development Design Engineer.

Originally from Colombia, Aldo brings with him a wealth of experience in product design and engineering having worked on a variety of challenging projects for companies in North America, Brazil and mainland Europe.

He has been in the UK for the last ten years and lives in Coventry. When he arrived in 1999, he headed straight to Coventry University to start an MSc Degree in Automotive Engineering Design to further his engineering skills and learn more about the latest technological developments.

“I had been working for a global company (Philips) based in my home country, Colombia. In 1996, I was invited to be part of its product development team at its Latin American headquarters in Sao Paulo in Brazil. While this was a great opportunity, I had a real desire to further my education and made the radical decision to move to England to continue my studies. I haven’t looked back!” says Aldo enthusiastically.

His career path then steered him to the position of senior design engineer for Spyker Cars where he developed two versions of Soft Top solutions for the Spyder model. Aldo was also a design engineer developing mechanisms for ball bearing slides used in various appliances for Accuride International.

In 2007, Aldo was accepted to participate in a ‘Highly Skilled Migrant Programme’ run by the home office, gaining him permanent British residence.

Aldo now plays a key role at COBA in research and development, ultimately contributing to its expansion and product diversification through continual innovation and design.

“I am very pleased to join COBA, not least because it is so well respected and operates with extreme professionalism. While COBA has been established within its industry sector for a long time, the market place today demands more integrated solutions with a focus on innovation. Addressing this, COBA has created this job function solely dedicated to research and development. I relish this challenge and the exciting potential it brings to COBA as a whole,” says Aldo.

On a personal level, Aldo describes himself as a keen ‘DIY’ enthusiast and during his free time enjoys designing and making furniture. His artistic skills are further underlined by his love of oil painting and sculpting (which he confesses to having little time to pursue these days). While also being passionate about concept vehicles, it is motorcycles that provide Aldo with the ultimate thrill. Not surprising, given that he raced in Motocross and Enduro when he was younger, becoming Motocross Regional Champion and Enduro National Champion. “I left the sport to make a living!” he says “learning along the way skills including welding, metal crafting and woodworking.”

COBA Supports Local Skate Park

Fri, 6 Mar 2009 15:35:16 0000

Always liking to support local community initiatives, COBA has been pleased to donate £1000 to help fund the construction of a skatepark in its home town of Fleckney, Leicestershire. The skatepark was officially opened in April and is providing many young people with a great place to have fun.

COBA wins VW Seal of Approval

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 10:01:17 0000

COBA Plastics Ltd is delighted to announce that it has been awarded an ‘A’ rating during a recent audit undertaken by Volkswagen group. The 2 day visit saw all of COBA’s systems and processes come under intense scrutiny, as the visit sought to confirm that COBA’s working practices were up to the consistently high standards required by such prestigious brands as Bentley and Porsche.

As part of the audit, each area of our production process was analysed, from raw material administration through to final despatch. COBA’s IT systems were examined in order to demonstrate that the required standards in terms of stock accuracy and quality are consistently met. The visit provided an opportunity for COBA’s production, engineering and quality teams to demonstrate the plant’s cutting-edge technology and processes, as well as its ongoing drive to progress through innovation and modernisation.

One aspect of the COBA operation which particularly impressed the VW auditor was the standard of housekeeping and general cleanliness throughout the plant, from the factory floor right through to the warehouse and yard areas. Commenting on this, COBA’s quality manager Gary Wyatt stated ‘This has been very much a plant wide endeavour…the result of this audit matches the results of our own self-audit carried out by COBA’s Julian Oldham and Pete Williams’. European Sales Manager Nick Wood added ‘This is really good news and puts us in a very strong position’.

The endorsement from Volkswagen group comes at an exciting time for COBA as it rises to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing global automotive industry. A number of highly innovative new products have already been developed for some of the motor industry’s most acclaimed new vehicles, such as the new Vauxhall/Opel Insignia, and more will follow over the coming months. COBA looks forward to further developing what is already a highly successful partnership with VW group during 2009 and beyond.

COBA welcomes Michael Cox

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:33:25 0000

Michael Cox has recently joined the COBA Plastics team. Michael, who has some 30 years of experience in the plastics and rubber industry, joins COBA as Account Manager – Industrial Products.

His key role is to apply his knowledge in developing new business within the industrial trade sales sector. As a result, Michael will be promoting COBA’s design and manufacturing capabilities to a wide and varied audience. Office furniture, shop-fittings, glass and glazing, and display equipment are just a few examples of industrial applications where COBA can offer its expertise.

Michael’s technical experience started at Rolls Royce where he completed an HND in Mechanical Engineering working on aero engines and gas turbines. His career path then took him to long term positions within the rubber and plastics industry, with just a short period out of this field running his own foiling business. However it was the plastics industry that beckoned him back and COBA is pleased to welcome him onboard.

Naturally, much of Michael’s time will be on the road visiting existing and potential customers. He lives in Burton-on-Trent and is married with two grown-up children. When not working, Michael confesses to having a serious DIY interest, and has spent many years renovating his own property.

COBA Supports Adam'Smile

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:53:12 0000

COBA has recently supported a charity Strongman Contest in aid of a local charity called Adam’Smile.

The fund-raising event, organised by Harborough based Risk Fit UK, took place in Welland Park and was supported by some 2000 people. Twenty four men from Leicestershire took part in a range of strength testing activities – from flipping huge tractor tyres to pulling transit vans, to help support this great charity, set up in memory of teenager Adam Mugridge, who was killed while cycling to school in 2006.

Funds from the charity are being used to build a safe cycle way from Lubenham to Market Harborough. The day was a great success and looks set to raise the target of £2500