Rapid Colour Services
Rapid Colour Services Ltd is an independent UK manufacturer of custom colour and additive masterbatch solutions for thermoplastics processing, serving industrial customers across automotive, packaging, retail, cosmetics, and defence sectors with flexible order sizes and 24-hour colour matching.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersLeigh, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Rapid Colour Services does
Rapid Colour Services Ltd is a UK-based independent manufacturer of custom colour and additive masterbatch solutions for the thermoplastics industry, operating from a single headquarters and production facility in Moss Industrial Estate, Leigh, Lancashire. Founded in the early 1990s with over 30 years of operating history, the company specialises in formulating colour and additive concentrates for processing methods including injection moulding, extrusion, blow moulding, fibre spinning, and cable extrusion. Its product portfolio spans five lines: Custom Colour Masterbatch (with a 24-hour colour matching and formulation service), Black & White Masterbatch (including food-contact and NIR detectable grades), Additive Masterbatch (antistatics, antioxidants, UV stabilisers, process aids, slip/anti-block), Smart Formulations (multi-functional single-dose masterbatches combining colour with effects such as deodoriser, fragrance, and antimicrobial), and Sustainable Masterbatches (bio-based, recycled content, and NIR detectable grades for recyclability). Underlying capabilities include in-house laboratory testing, proprietary colour matching procedures, and unique test equipment for quality parameter determination, with the operation holding ISO 9001:2015 certification.
The company sells directly to industrial manufacturers and brand owners across diverse verticals including automotive (Ford, Jaguar, Toyota, BMW), retail and grocery (Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury's, Asda, B&Q), cosmetics (L'Oreal, Max Factor, Schwarzkopf), food service (McDonald's), sporting goods (Dunlop Slazenger), construction (JCB), beverage (Pepsi), and government/defence (UK Ministry of Defence), with reference placements in commercial aircraft. The business model is one-time custom-batch sales with quote-based pricing and an unusually flexible MOQ range from 3 kilograms to 20 tonnes, supported by a stock holding facility offering next-working-day delivery on off-the-shelf items. GTM is sales-led and UK-domestic only, with no disclosed channel partners, exports, or distributor network; commercial outreach is conducted through the company website, LinkedIn, and select UK industry events such as Plastic Live. No revenue, funding, M&A, or partnership data has been disclosed.
Rapid Colour Services firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rapid Colour Services
- Legal name
- Rapid Colour Services Ltd
- Website
- https://rapidcolour.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Rapid Colour Services Ltd is an independent UK manufacturer of custom colour and additive masterbatch solutions for thermoplastics processing, serving industrial customers across automotive, packaging, retail, cosmetics, and defence sectors with flexible order sizes and 24-hour colour matching.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rapid Colour Services industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Polymer Masterbatch Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Synthetic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing (32513)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Masterbatch Manufacturing (Color, Additive, White/Black) (IMANABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Polymer Compounds & Masterbatches (Compounding, Color/Fill/Additive Concentrates) (IMAEANAJ), Engineering Thermoplastic Compounds (PA/PBT/PC/POM/PPS/PEEK) (IMANABAB), Color Masterbatches & Dispersions (IMAEAHAK), Bioplastics Compounding & Masterbatch (bio-based additives, colorants, fillers) (IMANANAB)
Keywords
Where Rapid Colour Services is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leigh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Rapid Colour Services business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Custom Colour Masterbatch Sales: Sale of custom colour masterbatches formulated to customer specifications for thermoplastics processing. MOQ starts from 3 kilos to 20 tonnes. Primary revenue stream with rapid colour matching and 24-hour formulation service.
- Black & White Masterbatch Sales: Off-the-shelf and custom Black and White masterbatches including NIR detectable grades. Next working day delivery available on stock items.
- Sustainable Masterbatch Sales: Bio-based and recycled content masterbatches including PLA, biodegradable polymers, recycled polymer-based masterbatches, and NIR detectable grades for circular economy applications.
- Additive Masterbatch Sales: Tailored additive masterbatches including antistatics, antioxidants, UV stabilisers, process aids, and specialised formulations for polymer protection and modification.
- Smart Formulations Sales: Multi-functional masterbatches combining multiple additives and colours in single dose for cost-effective polymer processing.
- Technical Services: Technical compounding service, full analytical test facilities, in-house testing, and supportive analytical data for quality assurance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Orders - Minimum 3kg to 20 tonnes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Off-the-shelf Black & White Masterbatch |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Rapid Colour Services product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rapid Colour Services manufactures and supplies custom colour and additive masterbatch solutions for the thermoplastics market. Its core offering is the formulation and supply of colour masterbatches (custom and black/white), additive masterbatches (antistatics, UV stabilisers, slip/anti-block), multi-functional smart formulations, and sustainable bio-based/recycled/NIR-detectable grades for polymer processors across injection moulding, extrusion, blow moulding, fibre spinning, and cable extrusion applications.
Product overview
Rapid Colour Services is a UK-based manufacturer of custom colour and additive masterbatch solutions for the thermoplastics market. The product portfolio consists of five core offerings: Custom Colour Masterbatch (with 24-hour colour matching), Black & White Masterbatch (for industrial and food-grade applications), Additive Masterbatch (for polymer protection), Smart Formulations (multi-functional combinations), and Sustainable Masterbatches (bio-based, recycled, and NIR detectable grades). These products serve diverse processing methods including injection moulding, extrusion, blow moulding, fibre spinning, and cable extrusion across sectors such as automotive, food packaging, medical, and construction.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Custom Colour Masterbatch Custom colour masterbatch solutions with 24-hour colour matching and formulating service, supporting a wide range of polymers including polyolefins, styrenics, nylons, polyesters, and biodegradable polymers.
- Black & White Masterbatch Off-the-shelf and custom-formulated black and white masterbatches for industrial sheet, food packaging, cable, pipe, automotive, construction, geomembrane, medical, and electronics applications, including NIR-detectable and food-contact grades.
- Smart Formulations Multi-functional masterbatches combining multiple additives and colours in a single dose, such as deodoriser, fragrance, and antimicrobial properties, offering cost savings and reduced wastage.
- Additive Masterbatch Tailored additive masterbatches for polymer protection and modification including antistatics, antioxidants, UV stabilisers, process aids, and slip/anti-block additives.
- Sustainable Masterbatches Environmentally-focused masterbatches including bio-based solutions (PLA, biodegradable polymers), recycled source masterbatches, and NIR detectable grades for improved recyclability.
Quantifiable outcome
- 24-hour rapid colour matching service for custom formulations
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Rapid Colour Services
Customer profileNamed customers21 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Rapid Colour Services technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Rapid Colour Services partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Rapid Colour Services competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Silvergate Plastics: UK-based custom colour and additive masterbatch manufacturer serving packaging, healthcare and consumer goods. Highly comparable to Rapid Colour on product mix (colour, black/white, additive), UK-only footprint, and custom small-batch orientation.
- Plastiblends India: Indian masterbatch manufacturer offering black, white, colour and additive masterbatches. Comparable product portfolio to Rapid Colour across colour and additive masterbatches, though primarily serving the Indian subcontinent.
- Sukano: Specialist masterbatch producer for PET, PLA and other polymers, including sustainable and functional masterbatches. Overlaps directly with Rapid Colour on additive, colour and sustainable masterbatch portfolios.
- Gabriel-Chemie: European (Austrian) family-owned masterbatch specialist with colour, additive and biopolymer masterbatches. Closely comparable in independent, technically driven positioning and similar product breadth including sustainable masterbatches.
- Hubron Speciality: UK-based masterbatch and speciality compound producer. Comparable in technical custom masterbatch offerings for thermoplastics and similar European customer base.
- Broadway Colours: Independent UK colour masterbatch manufacturer with a similar custom-colour and small-batch focus. Directly comparable in customer base (UK plastics processors) and product range (custom colour masterbatch).
Broad incumbents
- Cabot Corporation: Global specialty chemicals company with a black masterbatch and conductive compounds business. Direct competitor in black masterbatches and engineering plastics, especially for automotive and industrial applications.
- LyondellBasell (A. Schulman): Major polyolefins and polymer compounds producer with a substantial masterbatch and compounding portfolio following its acquisition of A. Schulman. Comparable product offering at much greater scale, including sustainable masterbatches.
- Ampacet Corporation: One of the world's largest independent masterbatch producers with a broad colour, additive and specialty product range. Overlaps entirely with Rapid Colour's product categories at significantly greater scale and global reach.
- Avient (formerly PolyOne / Clariant Color): Global specialty polymer materials giant with a substantial colour and additive masterbatch business. Represents the dominant incumbent against whom Rapid Colour competes; broader portfolio and global scale make them the lead competitive benchmark.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Rapid Colour Services social profiles
Digital presenceRapid Colour Services compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Rapid Colour Services financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rapid Colour Services leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Rapid Colour Services funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rapid Colour Services M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rapid Colour Services
What does Rapid Colour Services do?
Rapid Colour Services manufactures and supplies custom colour and additive masterbatch solutions for the thermoplastics market. Its core offering is the formulation and supply of colour masterbatches (custom and black/white), additive masterbatches (antistatics, UV stabilisers, slip/anti-block), multi-functional smart formulations, and sustainable bio-based/recycled/NIR-detectable grades for polymer processors across injection moulding, extrusion, blow moulding, fibre spinning, and cable extrusion applications.
Is Rapid Colour Services a public or private company?
Rapid Colour Services is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Rapid Colour Services founded?
Rapid Colour Services was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Rapid Colour Services based?
Rapid Colour Services is headquartered in Leigh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Rapid Colour Services make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Custom Colour Masterbatch Sales are the primary driver. The others are black & White Masterbatch Sales, sustainable Masterbatch Sales, additive Masterbatch Sales, smart Formulations Sales and technical Services.
Who are Rapid Colour Services's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Silvergate Plastics, Plastiblends India, Sukano, Gabriel-Chemie, Hubron Speciality and Broadway Colours. Broad incumbents are Cabot Corporation, LyondellBasell (A. Schulman), Ampacet Corporation and Avient (formerly PolyOne / Clariant Color).
Does Rapid Colour Services have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rapid Colour Services.
What industry is Rapid Colour Services in?
Rapid Colour Services's product category is Polymer Masterbatch Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMANABAD, Masterbatch Manufacturing (Color, Additive, White/Black), with a secondary code of IMAEANAJ, Polymer Compounds & Masterbatches (Compounding, Color/Fill/Additive Concentrates). Its NAICS code is 32513 and its SIC code is 3080.