Hurst Green Plastics have spent over forty years producing and innovating new products to revolutionise supply chain management and help customers take control of their inventory.
Founded in 1979 Hurst Green Plastics started by producing disposable plastic products for the catering industry. Over the next few years, we developed a range of injection-moulded and vacuum formed products and expanded into other markets, including large supermarket chains.
One of the new products was a hands-free dispenser that, with the turn of a handle, dropped edible nuts down into a bag. It was from this dispenser that an opportunity arose to start suppling the aviation industry.
HGP’s first contract with Airbus was in 1997, for rivet dispensers on the Hawker line ( a design that was to win Airbus Chairman’s Gold Award for Innovation) and from there various improvements were made to make the bins cheaper, more efficient and more compact. These led to the two-tier bin, the multi-bin and eventually to today’s TwinBin™ and Kitting ranges.
In 2012, the company received two fantastic business awards for innovation; the North of England Excellence Award for Innovation and the prestigious Queen’s Award for Innovation.
Stephen and his mother Helen, who co-founded the company, attended the Royal Reception at Buckingham Palace and later the full team where officially presented with a cut glass rosebowl and commemorative scroll, signed by Her Majesty, at a ceremony held at BAE Systems Samlesbury, by Lord Shuttleworth, the Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire. BAE Systems Samlesbury was the first location for the Hurst Green Plastics’ unique inventory management control system.
In 2022 at the Farnborough International Airshow, we launched the TwinBin Live, a digital, data-driven solution that enables real-time, vendor-managed inventory control. This innovation has had a transformative impact across not only Aerospace but also industries including automotive, rail, electronics, general engineering, and healthcare.
In 2025, in recognition of the TwinBin Live system, we were delighted to win the King’s Award for Enterprise in the category of Innovation. This time our Managing Director, Tommy Sharples was invited to the Royal reception at Windsor Castle, alongside other King’s Award winners.
