Sam Hill, Group CEO of STH Plastics pictured with Jean Trowbridge, former owner of ISS on the completion of the deal on 1st November 2021
STH Plastics Ltd, a privately owned UK Plastics group, has acquired the entire share capital of International Scientific Supplies Ltd (ISS).
ISS is a leading manufacturer and supplier of laboratory consumables. Established for over 20 years, their competencies centre on conventional blood collection tubes, specimen containers, and primary test tubes and caps. These are complemented by a wide range of linked products covering all aspects of sample collection, liquid handling, processing, storage, transport, and disposal.
ISS primary tubes and caps were selected for use by NHS Test and Trace for containing viral transport medium used in a significant percentage of the COVID-19 PCR test program with ISS supplying over 80 million so far.
The ISS manufacturing site in Bradford operates the latest energy-efficient injection moulding, filling, capping, printing, and labelling machinery, and ISS can offer gamma irradiation of virtually any consumable.
Recent and significant investment in Cleanroom facilities result in being able to operate to ISO 6 – ISO 7 standards (Class 1,000-10,000). This allows assembly within a HEPA filtered, laminar flow environment and best practice of molecular biology.
STH Plastics Ltd was established in 2012 by CEO and owner Sam Hill.
Following the acquisition of Injection Moulder and Toolmaker Adreco Plastics in Milton Keynes, Sam Hill explains: “Acquisition has always been at the forefront of the group’s strategy, but there was never a desire to acquire other businesses for vanity or scale’s sake. We remain committed to the belief that any acquisition must be a strategic fit and offer opportunities for synergy and to build upon an enviable reputation and legacy. ISS are exactly that: they have a phenomenally strong reputation and an established, world-class and
passionate team”
ISS’s Managing Director, Andrew Littlewood, continues in his current role and has joined the STH Plastics group board of Directors.
Andrew commented on the acquisition: “It’s a very exciting time, and my team and I are thrilled that the Bradford operation will continue supplying world-class Laboratory consumables around the world. Having worked with Sam previously during his time as Managing Director of Summit Systems, and more recently when we were both involved in the UK Government’s ‘Moonshot’ project in response the COVID-19 pandemic, I know this represents a fantastic alignment of hearts and minds to build upon the ISS reputation.”