£1.3 million heist of assets at the QC Polymer West Midlands PET Recycling Plant

On November 6th, on the eve of the scheduled public inspection for QC Polymer’s assets - set to be auctioned after the company entered administration - the factory was found empty, and all manufacturing equipment valued at around £1.3 million had been stolen.

QC Polymer entered administration on October 29, 2024, with Hudson Weir’s Hasib Howlader and Nimish Patel appointed as joint administrators. Hudson Weir had retained G J Wisdom & Co to act as valuers and auctioneers to facilitate the sale of the plant, a state-of-the-art facility specialising in plastic bottle recycling with advanced rPET technology.

When Garry Wisdom of G J Wisdom & Co arrived at the factory on November 6th to prepare for the public viewing, he discovered the entire production line missing. An initial assessment estimated that dismantling the equipment would have required over four weeks and a fleet of six articulated lorries. Instead, the theft had been executed in just three days, with no signs of forced entry. Authorities, including the Police and the Serious Fraud Squad, are now investigating.

“This is a staggering turn of events following QC Polymer’s administration,” said Hasib Howlader of Hudson Weir. “The stolen machinery is highly specialised, designed specifically for PET recycling, with a limited market for resale. We encourage industry members to be vigilant and report any suspicious listings or offers well below market value.”

The stolen equipment included:

• Bail Break, Trommel Separator, Cap & Label Separator, Tomra Autosort Bottle Sorter with EM3 Metal Sensor

• Ken Mills Aries Horizontal Baler, Label Remover, Pre-Washer, Granulators, Floating Tanks, Centrifugal Dryers

• Steam Boiler, Hot Wash Tanks, Hot Air Drying System, Blow Down Vessel, Tomra Optical Flake Sorter, Eddy Current Separator

• Discharge Silo & Twin Bagging Stand, various connecting conveyors

• Boge Direct Air UK Air Compressor with a 1000L Tank & Dryer

• Two Polymer Preparation Systems

• Dissolved Air Flotation System for water filtration

“There was strong interest in this equipment, with several parties prepared to make offers on November 11. This theft is a setback in our efforts to maximise recovery for creditors,” Howlader continued. “We’re urging the recycling industry to remain alert and to report any sightings of this stolen equipment.”

For any information regarding this machinery, please contact:

Hasib Howlader - Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 020 7099 6086

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