Hurst Green Plastics, a family-owned business based in Whalley, Lancashire, which has been trading for over 45 years, has received The King’s award for Enterprise (Innovation) in 2025. Managing Director, Tommy Sharples, was invited to a Royal Reception at Windsor Castle in the presence of HRH King Charles III to mark the occasion.
This national accolade recognises the company’s sustained commitment to innovation, which has had a transformative impact across multiple global industries, including aerospace, rail, electronics, engineering and healthcare. This is a result of its development of TwinBin Live, a unique patented storage system designed to simplify stock control and inventory management in the manufacturing sectors.
TwinBin Live works by holding a ‘live’ stock of materials or fasteners, which, when depleted, allows a second re-stock batch to be immediately released for use whilst an automatic flag raises and sends a cloud-based signal to indicate that new stock is required. It also provides fully traceable restocking to the correct location improving efficiency and reducing downtime.
“Being invited to The Royal Reception at Windsor, alongside other King’s Award winners was a really proud moment,” said Tommy Sharples. Managing Director of Hurst Green Plastics. “Innovation has always been at the heart of what we do and this has enabled our business to become a globally trusted supplier to some of the world’s most renowned organisations.”
The original TwinBin- a mechanical system designed to simplify component tracking was first manufactured in 2000 and, over the last 25 years, that initial concept has evolved into TwinBin Live, a digital, data-driven solution that enables real time, vendor managed inventory.
Now being used in major organisations throughout the world, TwinBin Live represents a major breakthrough in real time tracking and management of high value, safety critical components. This innovation has had a transformative impact across many industries, which led to the company winning The Queen’s award for Innovation in 2012.
All the company’s products are designed and manufactured in the Lancashire area, giving continual support to local businesses and always ensuring exceptional quality.
Instituted by Royal Warrant in 1965, the King’s Awards are the most prestigious business awards in the UK, with recipients recognised as being among the best of British businesses.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise are awarded to businesses for outstanding achievement in four categories; International Trade, Innovation, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity (through social mobility), to recognise businesses who promote social mobility.
Hurst Green Plastics looks forward to leveraging this award as a platform for further innovation and international expansion.
This year, a total of 197 businesses across the UK were recognised for their success across the four award categories.
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