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IFS Applications 7 will replace numerous disparate legacy systems to automate a range of labour-intensive and costly manual processes. Polypipe will benefit from having a single integrated system providing improved visibility of information across the group and the capability to respond with greater agility to internal and external market requirements. The group-wide Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution will enable more effective operations across the wide range of Polypipe’s UK businesses. Each business is focused in particular market areas, including production of specialist plastic components, manufacturing of sub-assemblies and fittings, and distribution of pre-packed merchandise. As well as supporting the needs of the individual companies, the IFS implementation will strengthen the inter-company activity within Polypipe, a key element in delivering the range of product solutions to each of the markets which are served. “Polypipe has attained its market-leadership position by providing a broad product range, reliability and value. Managing our processes to deliver best value products into every market is critical, and as such we need to streamline many of these to improve efficiency across the company as a whole,” said Mike McKay, Head of Information Services, Polypipe. “With IFS Applications 7, IFS was able to demonstrate a better match to our requirements than its competitors. IFS’ experience in the plastics and manufacturing industry reinforced that it has an understanding of our business and our industry, and provided the confidence that it is able to deliver the system to support Polypipe.” Industrial manufacturing is one of IFS’ targeted vertical markets. IFS has a broad customer base in the industry, focusing on medium to large-sized manufacturers that need support for complex order-driven and mixed-mode manufacturing across the extended enterprise. With strong support for project management, engineering, constraint-based scheduling, product configuration, and after-sales support, IFS’ component-based business solutions are designed to help companies improve quality, contain costs, and improve their competitive position in manufacturing industry segments such as machinery, defence, fabricated metal products, and plastics. Industrial manufacturing companies also benefit from IFS’ lifecycle management solution, which goes beyond product lifecycle management (PLM) to provide better integration and management of three critical business areas—products, customers, and resources—throughout their lifecycles. IFS customers in the plastic products manufacturing industry include Coba, Richco, Schlemmer Filtrona Extrusion, Nolato Plastteknik AB, Linpac, Value Plastics, and Euroform AB. “Increasingly, UK manufacturers are under pressure to achieve a higher level of agility and responsiveness to changing market conditions,” said Paul Massey, Managing Director, IFS UK. “Companies like Polypipe, with a diverse product portfolio and multiple site base, need to have accurate information and analysis across their operations. In this case our software will help increase efficiency and productivity.” Polypipe’s 400-user, site by site implementation of IFS will take place during 2007.
About Polypipe
Polypipe are a leading manufacturer of plastic pipe systems for the UK building and construction market. Within the UK independent builder’s merchant sector, Polypipe are the market leader and also enjoy a strong position in the UK repair, maintenance and improvement sector. “Polypipe” is the No. 1 plastic pipe systems brand in the UK building products sector and the company are also a leading UK supplier of plastic components and fittings for bathroom and kitchen product applications and of pre-packed heating, plumbing and ventilation components and accessories for the do-it-yourself (“DIY”) and merchant sectors. Polypipe was founded in 1980 and has subsequently grown to its current size through both organic growth and acquisition of other companies operating in related market sectors. In 1999 Polypipe was acquired by IMI plc, who subsequently sold Polypipe to Castle Harlan Partners IV, LP in September 2005. This private equity partnership is based in New York and Polypipe is its largest European investment.
About IFS
IFS (OMXS: IFS), the global enterprise applications company, provides solutions which enable organisations to respond quickly to market changes - allowing resources to be used in a more agile way to achieve better business performance and competitive advantage. IFS was founded in 1983 and now has 2,600 employees worldwide. IFS has pioneered component-based ERP software with IFS Applications™, now in its seventh generation. IFS’ component architecture provides solutions that are easier to implement, run and upgrade. IFS Applications is available in 54 countries in 20 languages.
For additional information, contact:
Manni Svensson, IR & PR, Industrial and Financial Systems, IFS AB (publ)
Telephone: +46 8 5878 45 00
Drew Benvie, Lewis PR
Telephone: +44 (0)207 802 2626
E-mail: drewb@lewispr.com
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