Why a Faraday for Plastics

1
Why a Faraday for Plastics?

• UK plastics industry is dynamic faster growth
  than GDP and above av. profitability
• 5k companies, 250k staff, 18bn turnover
• BUT the industry is fragmented faces increasing
  pressure on price, lead time, design, etc., and
  lacks leading edge capability compared with
  overseas competitors

2
Plastics Industry Research Needs

• Continuous improvement of materials and process
  technologies to benefit environment and weight
  saving
• Reduced time to market through modelling and
  simulation
• Reduced cycle time through process improvement
• Increased productivity, lower costs, higher
  quality through fewer stages in manufacturing
• Zero defect production (just do it right)
• Better appreciation of customers technology
  needs
• More trained people

3
Aims of Faraday Plastics

• To address the driving forces which shape the
  development and future prosperity of the plastics
  sector the sectors heavily dependent on
  plastics
• To create a national focus for academicindustry
  collaboration in the plastic industry, its
  suppliers and end users
• To deliver a capability throughout this supply
  chain for cleaner, lower cost, faster and more
  flexible processes

4
Core Partners in Faraday Plastics

• Rapra Technology Ltd. The leading UK RTO
  dedicated to Rubbers and Plastics. Established
  for over 80 years, Rapra provides technology,
  consultancy, information and training - from
  sites in the West Midlands (Shawbury) and North
  East (Billingham)
• Warwick Manufacturing Group. One of the major
  academically based manufacturing groups in
  Europe. Operates through a partnership approach
  with industry closely involved in the delivery of
  research, knowledge transfer and continuous
  professional development. Set up in 1980, the
  WMG is part of Warwick University

5
Associate Partners in Faraday Plastics

• Materials Engineering Research Laboratories
  (MERL) based at Hertford
• Bradford University, Dept of Mechanical and
  Medical Engineering (part of IRC in Polym.
  Science Technol.)
• Scottish Polymer Technology Network (Strathclyde,
  Napier, Herriot Watt Universities and Bell
  College)
• Polymer Centre of the South West (Exeter
  Plymouth Universities and Trowbridge College)
• British Plastics Federation
• Institute of Materials
• Gauge and Toolmakers Association

6
Faraday Plastics - Deliverables

• Targets set in respect of three main outputs
• Research
• Education Training
• Knowledge Transfer
• Regional delivery of a national capability
• Key deliverable will be an industry which is more
  knowledgeable and better able to compete
  globally, is more closely connected to the
  research base and better equipped to adopt new
  knowledge

7
Faraday Plastics - Research

• Four core themes
• Design,
• Processing,
• Durability
• Disposal
• Faraday Fellows to work with industry to identify
  individual company needs
• Operate in conjunction with Faraday Help desk and
  salesmen on the road
• Feed through to Strategic Advisory Group to set
  research agenda

8
Inter-related Research Themes

• Design. Includes predictive modelling, data
  models exchange, material selection, rapid
  prototyping, rapid stress analysis, virtual
  reality, visualisation simulation, design for
  disassembly, etc.
• Processing. Includes enhanced monitoring and
  control, better dimensional control, lower
  degradation, less energy consumption, innovative
  processes for multi-functionality and weight
  saving, etc.
• Durability. Includes design for predicted life
  failure, resistance to environmental attack,
  weathering, ageing fatigue, understanding and
  extending performance ceilings, etc.
• Disposal/Recycling. Includes sustainable
  processes and understanding breakdown at end of
  product life, best practice options, emerging
  legislation, recyclate processing use, etc.

9
Faraday Plastics Education Training

• Faraday Associates using PTP 3-year or EngD
  4-year model - with secondments to industry
• TCS and other studentships drawn from Faraday
  Plastics research agenda
• Masters Diplomas in Business Management
• Short technology-based training courses and
  distance learning packages

10
Faraday Plastics Knowledge Transfer

• Research dissemination through papers and four
  technology based industry groups
• Establishment of six end-use based industry
  groups
• Establishment of six regional clusters
• Telephone Helpdesk and Website enquiry service
• Virtual Consultant for real-time solution of SME
  problems