White Horse Plastics (WHP) co-founder and owner Rod Houghton has agreed a company sale and succession team that is drawn from the existing WHP management.

The WHP Management Buy Out (MBO) is immediately effective. The new WHP team, which has over 100 years of experience at the company, will be led by general manager Paul Bobby, now managing director.

Rod Houghton said: “I am delighted to be placing the WHP business in such capable hands. Knowing the competences of all concerned greatly assures me that the company has a very bright future – and for at least the next 45 years!”

WHP was founded by Rod Houghton, Roy Bayston and Don Fathers in 1973 in the heart of rural Oxfordshire. After moving to their current location in 1993 the company has steadily expanded.

The company specialises in the development and production of tight tolerance technical injection mouldings and plastics-based sub-assemblies.

WHP technical competencies now include over 30 injection moulding machines; CAD/CAM facilities, CNC optical measurement, CMM systems, insert loading and camera inspection, a tool room and medtech manufacturing space.

In addition to ISO9001, ISO 14001 and IATF 16949, the business also has ISO 13485 standard for the production of medical devices.

Managing director Paul Bobby said: “We are delighted to have made such a smooth MBO transition to the new ownership and the new management team.

“I want to thank all our customers for their support over the years and to reassure them that White Horse Plastics continues to be in very safe hands. We are all excited by what the future holds over the coming months as we actively pursue new markets and new sales, and build upon our reputation of the past 45 years.”