MGS Technical Plastics announce major investment at Blackburn base

Plastic injection moulding company MGS Technical Plastics continues to grow with a £200,000 investment in new machinery and the opening of an additional unit to provide more modern and efficient workspace. 

Based at Centurion Business Park, Blackburn, the privately owned business
founded in 1974 has installed four new Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, representing an investment of more than £200,000, to increase its in-house machining capability. 

In April 2026 MGS, which currently employs 12 moulding technicians, toolmakers, engineers and multi-skilled operatives, will occupy a new 3,600 sq ft unit at Centurion Business Park to expand its footprint and provide the space for a more modern, efficient toolroom and development area. 

Furthering its ambition to become a £m £15m plastic injection moulder, MGS has invested a total of more than £2m in its facilities and underwent a management buyout in January 2026 led by Judson Smythe, Mark Preston and Neil Garrity.  

Its latest investment and expansion follows a four-year programme of modernisation of its moulding plant, switching to an all‑electric machine fleet and installing solar generation on-site. 

The programme delivered a 40 per cent-plus reduction in MGS’s carbon footprint and created a more efficient, stable platform for customers. 

Judson Smythe, MGS managing director, said: “With that foundation in place, our next phase of investment is centred on strengthening our toolroom as a true support system for our moulding operations and for our customers’ long‑term tooling needs.  

“Our goal is to ensure we can maintain customer moulds properly, turn around modifications quickly, and offer cost‑effective prototype and low‑volume tooling using generic bolsters, aluminium dies and similar approaches.” 

Judson explained that a key part of this progress is expanding MGS’s capability in prototype and aluminium tooling - giving customers a faster, more flexible route to early‑stage parts without the cost or lead time of full production tooling.  

He added: “By using generic bolsters, modular inserts and aluminium dies, we can produce functional prototype tools at a fraction of the traditional cost - ideal for design validation, low‑volume production, or bridging the gap while production tooling is being manufactured.  

“Because this work is done in‑house, customers benefit from shorter lead times, tighter control, and the ability to iterate quickly with our engineering team. 

"It’s a genuine value‑add for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and product developers who need speed, responsiveness and practical engineering support.” 

Prof. Miranda Barker OBE, spokesperson for Lancashire Business Board, says the 'ongoing investment and expansion by MGS Technical Plastics is further evidence of Lancashire’s advanced engineering and manufacturing (AEM) sector being a cornerstone of the county’s economy'. 

She added: "MGS reflects the wider sector’s resilience, innovation and global competitiveness, playing a critical role in driving productivity, exports, and sustainable growth. The sector also supports regional wellbeing and provides high-value employment across the county.”