Fire Damages Belfast Plastics Factory

Fire severely damaged the storage facility of a modern factory used by Long Plastics in March Place, Belfast, Christchurch.

No one was hurt in the fire and the fire service is investigating the cause. The storage facility was two thirds full of finished product at the time of the fire but product moulds, stored in the same area but in a fire proofed room escaped unharmed.

Mr Peter Spackman, general manager of the firm, said that while it was a devastating blow for the company so close to Christmas it was fortunate that there was no injury or loss of life. In addition the product moulds had been well protected and this would enable the firm to re-establish production within a few days.

It was also fortunate that the company had already undertaken risk analysis including fire risk and the strategies in place would enable the company to recover immediately.

The firm is a world class manufacturer of expanded plastic materials and packaging solutions. Long Plastics services both the New Zealand and Australian markets through factories in Christchurch and Brisbane. As well as packaging materials the company also manufactures EPS building products and architectural polystyrene.

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