Month: September 2021

MARKET DISRUPTION TO RAW MATERIAL SUPPLY AND TRANSPORTATION

Due to polypropylene shortfalls in the US market, cracker maintenance announced by some major suppliers and disturbances in the global transportation network, we are seeing a general market tightening of polymer availability and increases in transportation costs. This is subsequently having an adverse effect on market supply and demand, resulting in rising costs, market prices and limited availability of polypropylene.

As we move further into 2021, the current global market situation is changing.

While International Fibres Group draw from multiple pre-approved contracted sources of polymers across a range of different suppliers internationally, we are aware that this is a widespread issue affecting the general market and is causing issues in the global distribution of polymer.
As a result, we are experiencing additional demand across some of our production sites. To meet this challenge, we are having to draw on extra polymer resources and pay premiums on transport which in many cases, will affect standard pricing conditions and may influence lead times.
We are currently engaging with our customers on these challenges and to understand their expected requirements through February and March to help us best manage the capacity across our sites and minimize any disruption in the ongoing supply chain.
We thank you for your support and your continued business as we navigate these challenges. If you have any queries or require any further information please contact info@fibresgroup.comYours sincerely,International Fibres Group

JIMMY BROOKES’ 30-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

To celebrate Jimmy Brookes’ 30-year anniversary at IFG, we sat down with him to discuss his journey to become Technical Sales Manager. Having first started on the shop floor in 1990, Jimmy looked for every opportunity to learn about the industry from his colleagues and managers, leaning on their knowledge and expertise to soon become an integral part of the team. Such enthusiasm and hard work led to his first promotion, as he accepted the position of Shift supervisor in April 1996, where he stayed until his next role as Shift Manager in 2004.

After 9 years of organising the team at IFG Drake and ensuring a well-run operation in the factory, Jimmy made the move to Production Manager in 2013 where he was tasked with overseeing the whole production operation.

As part of his new role Jimmy would show customers around the IFG factory and warehouse with a huge sense of pride, knowing that himself and the team have every reasonable precaution in place to keep employees safe and provide the perfect working environment. In 2015 Jimmy was again rewarded for his efforts with a further promotion to Site manager looking after the entire site.
Since February 18’ Jimmy has found himself as part of the office team at IFG, having been given a further promotion to UK Sales Manager.
On his promotion and favourite part of his new role, Jimmy said:“It was time for a change, and I’ve loved moving into the office with the sales guys. Before COVID, my favourite part of the new job was flying abroad and meeting all our clients, I even managed 16 flights in 3 months at one point! It’s so important to provide a great service to our customers and provide a personal touch when entering their facilities, whether that’s learning about their local culture or just the local football team. That personal relationship is quite often the difference between us and our competitors”Jimmy’s story is a true testament to his hard work and eagerness to learn everything he could in his early years at IFG, showing that the pathway is there for anyone currently starting their journey to follow in his footsteps.
Here’s to many more happy years!