Tuesday 24 March 2015

Plastic Netting protects packaged product and WIP in transit.

Life in the fast lane can be a pretty rough ride for your goods in transit.

Finished effectively and protected en route, the same QC stamp of approval will apply to goods reaching your customers as proudly as it did when leaving your work – and this is where S&R can help.

[Click on any of the images below to find out more of the many options available from S&R]

Sinclair & Rush’s remit is to manufacture and supply products that Protect, Package and Finish our customers’ wide ranging materials, products and work in progress. This week we are spotlighting two product ranges that do just that:

Plastic and Rubber Edging protects and finishes sharp, fragile, brittle edges.



Plastic Netting protects packaged product and WIP in transit.



Edgings strips have a huge range of applications and, as such, are available in an equally huge variety of materials, strengths and formats.

The simplest is the standard plastic edge which protects sharp and vulnerable edges. It is durable and flexible enough to clip over irregular shapes. These strips are available in 10, 25 and 50 metre lengths which you simply cut to size and apply.


Heavier duty edging strips offer extra protection & durability to provide a neat and safe finish to sharp or brittle edges. These too are available in handy 10, 25 and 50 metre lengths.

Foam edging strips or Edge protectors are prized by the transport industry for protecting products and goods during transportation. As well as being excellent for shipping protection, the foam edge can be used to protect any number of corners and crevices. The edge protector can be used for carrying sheet metal or glass, table tops, protect desk edges, painting protection, fragile goods, MDF, general edge protection etc.

Impact protection profiles provide both a visual warning and a safety cushioning. They protect corners, protruding edges and goods in warehouses, production areas etc. These high quality foam edging protectors are fitted with a self adhesive strip for easy installation to a smooth, dust and grease free surface and are manufactured in flexible age-resistant polyurethane foam.




Protective Netting is as flexible and practical as it sounds.

It comes in ‘long’ tubes of netting and a variety of strengths. There is also a ‘high stretch’ format that fits easily around irregular shapes. So there is something for every application.



To minimises surface scratching, scuffing & indentations, plastic netting is the perfect solution. It can be cut to your exact size or supplied in longer lengths on reels, so that you pull and cut the length you need for the job at hand. It reduces packaging & shipping costs and is available in low minimum order quantities.

Pallet Netting is increasingly popular. It creates friction to help hold loads in place providing an additional protective layer when shipping that neither rots nor rusts.



As we said though – the applications are so varied and the products to Protect, Package and Finish so broad that the best way to find out more is to call our experts on 01634 686 504 or to look at the range and shop on-line here.



 01634 686 504







Tuesday 17 March 2015

When is a grip not a grip? … When it’s a sleeve of course.

What’s in a sleeve – well the answer is just about anything you can imagine.

Plastic, foam and rubber sleeves are the most versatile of all the products we manufacture and stock at Sinclair & Rush. From decorative leverage, branded finishing, colour coded identification, insulated protection to quick fix solutions, plastic sleeves can be adapted to suit  a huge range of applications.



The process for manufacturing sleeves varies according to the type of sleeve we’re making. They can be either dip moulded or extrusion moulded. Dip moulding usually means the sleeve is closed at one end. But our extrusion moulded range creates what is effectively a long tube open at both ends.

Sleeves open at both ends, whether they are square, rectangular or round, can be manufactured and supplied to the specific length of your application or you can buy longer sleeves and cut them to size – perfect for flexible, cost-effective finishing and protection.

In the construction industry, plastic sleeves are used to cap reinforcement bars and wires in cement. They insulate the metal and stop it expanding as often happens causing the concrete to fracture.

What do you use your sleeves for? (...and please don't say arms!)

The colour selections are almost as broad as the applications – ideal for colour coding, brand alignment, or simply ‘groovy aesthetics! Branding, instructions, warnings etc can also be printed on your sleeves, creating the perfect finish for valve levers or tool handles.
I called 01634 586 504 and asked one of our busy sales team to summarise the key points regarding the square sleeves (above) and Allan said:

" Sleeves such as these are available in either a gloss and smooth finish or a textured and rough finish. The materials available are plastic and a rubber type, or material made from a rubberised plastic. As the sleeves are the interface between the user and your product, it is essential to have a good quality grip in the most suitable material. Rubber provides some vibration reduction and a foam alternative can be used to further reduce vibration transmitted from the product to the user. These sleeves provide an excellent way to finish off a tube, bar or handle and also provide a good feel for the user of your product.
Would you like me to send you some FREE samples? "

Take a look on-line by clicking on the Shop Now image below or call us on 01634 686 504.

01634 686 504






Monday 9 March 2015

New extrusion moulding line for S&R

VisiPak is a global brand from Sinclair & Rush that is fast becoming synonymous with commercial packaging for industrial safe storage and retail point of sale display.

Extrusion moulded plastic tubes are at the core of the VisiiPak range. Now, we are in the process of installing our own extrusion moulding line at our Rochester plant in Kent.

James Gardner has been over to our factory in China to inspect the line prior to it being shipped to Kent. Now he and a colleague are visiting our parent company in America on an intensive ‘all you need to know about running an extrusion moulding line but were too afraid to ask’ course.

This is a video of the plant inspection in China:



How does extrusion moulding work? An extruder consists of a hopper for feeding in the raw materials. It has a heating section where the materials are melted into the desired consistency and a section for transferring the melted solution through a die after which it is cooled to create the finished product. Each section can be manipulated by many variables to create different thicknesses and finishes of the plastic product.

How does one process create so many different end products? This is all down to the design of the die. The different dies create the different sizes, shapes, thicknesses and finishes, tailoring the materials to the application and spec. One machine can easily be used for different products by swapping the die.

So, from April we’ll be manufacturing the tube range ourselves, creating even better value for customers – like you.

Stop Press - but that's not all. Hot off the American press is more news of S&R's continued extension of VisiPak production :

Sinclair & Rush, Inc., through its VisiPak division, has successfully completed the acquisition of the assets of Tulox Plastics Corporation of Marion, Indiana, a manufacturer of clear plastic packaging containers. The move by VisiPak, a leading manufacturer of clear packaging products, expands the current line of plastic tube containers to include additional shapes, sizes and closure styles. Production from the Indiana facility will be relocated to the VisiPak manufacturing locations in St. Louis, MO, and Carlstadt, NJ, to more closely service the needs of customers.
“This acquisition correlates directly with our long-term strategies regarding increased product offerings and market reach,” said Brad Philip, President and COO of Sinclair & Rush, Inc. Mr. Philip continued, “The synergies created allow us to offer the broadest line of packaging products and related services, from concept to completion, of anyone in the industry.”

We offer a comprehensive line of clear plastic packaging tubes, tubular containers and creased ‘pop-up’ boxes together with probably the largest line of cap & plug options. This all combines to provide packaging solutions for a diverse range of applications.



Packaging tubes range from Permaseal sealed bottom containers to heavy-duty industrial packaging. Our stock line of clear plastic tubes is unrivalled in the industry in terms of quality, price, and selection. Plus, as the largest manufacturer of vinyl tube caps in the world, VisiPak gives you the broadest selection of caps to hang, flip, shake and seal - all at unbeatable prices.

Such clear plastic containers are suitable for packaging toys, cutting tools, posters, welding rods, cosmetics, bath salts, beads, and virtually anything else you can imagine.

They are ideal for keeping items safe in storage or by post and perfect for point of sale (POS) display.
Production of transparent boxes is made to order.  These clear folding cartons are available in a variety of shapes and styles including sleeves to protect the package and inserts to separate contents inside the box. Choose from a number of materials and decorating options to meet your specific needs.

All products use our proprietary creasing technology to ensure an easy fold and can be made in a variety of shapes and styles. The boxes are delivered and stored flat and simply ‘pop-up’ to insert your product.

Full colour printing and other decorative applications are also available.

One of the primary benefits of using VisiPak clear boxes is that branding, graphics, contents and directions can be applied directly to the box, eliminating the need for labels or header cards.  Boxes are typically printed on the inside to protect graphics during transit and storage.



Don’t risk your products getting damaged by soggy cardboard packaging, or your brand and instructions fade to illegibility in sun damaged and scuffed containers. It really is time to consider an alternative and VisiPak is it. Ask for advice by calling the number below, left, or shop on-line through the website below.  

The future is clear, the future is VisiPak.


Take a look on-line by clicking on the Shop Now image below or call us on 01634 686 504.



01634 686 504







Monday 2 March 2015

Keeping it together with S&R

Before I became part of ‘Team S&R’, I thought that a nut was a nut and a bolt was a bolt. I also thought they were all made of some form of alloy, stainless steal for example. But then I wondered why – even on the simplest ‘engineering’ application (my bike) I was forever having to tighten them up as they rattled their way free, a task which became harder as the rust set in.

To the uninitiated, the selection of bolts, nuts, washers and spacers as part of the design spec of a prototype or maintenance of existing products should be a simple task. In real terms however it’s trickier by far, needing careful consideration of temperatures, corrosion, vibration, fatigue and many other vital factors.

Because Sinclair & Rush ‘think plastic’ – the solution was clear: Nylon (or plastic) bolts, nuts, washers and spacers are all held here in stock ready for next day delivery.


Nylon fasteners are favoured especially in such applications, where the properties of their material, i.e. electrical insulation, corrosion resistance, lightweight, wear resistance and colour matching are of greater importance than high tensile holding strength.

Nylon washers have the following benefits: anti-magnetic, mechanical stability, vibration-resistant, non-sparking, non-aging, weather resistant, tasteless, non-toxic, non-corrosive, etc. These washers can handle temperatures up to 200°F, and they can be used in a wide range of applications, including: oil refineries, chemical industry, etc.


Light in weight, one of their primary uses includes electrical and thermal insulation, which makes them ideal for the electronics industry. They are also very cost effective compared with stainless steal screws when used in corrosive environments or where acids are present.

Other Applications of nylon screws and nuts include the electronics, marine, medical and food industries, along with the use of nylon screws and nuts in the manufacture of magnetic equipment and chemical equipment.

You’ll find a wide range of plastic fastening solutions right here at Sinclair & Rush – here’s a cross section: Hex head screws, grub screws, flat slotted, pan slotted, flat Phillips, pan Phillips, oval, fillister and cheese screws. Wing nuts, Deco locking wing nuts, Deco wing nuts. Hex nuts, locking cap nuts, threaded nut caps, nylon self locking and cap nuts. Washers, spacers and bushes … all Nylon.

In short: Nylon fasteners can reduce the weight, cost and assembling complexities of your products. We summarise their advantages thus: 
  • Nylon screws and nuts are non corrosive
  • Lightweight nylon screws and nuts
  • Good electrical insulation
  • Nylon screws and nuts are cost effective
  • High thermal insulation
  • Chemical resistant

Take a look on-line HERE  or call us on 01634 686 504



01634 686 504