Objective
This application has been prepared with the support of both an Exploratory Award and a Research Feasibility Study. The project aims to further the capability of rotational moulding by developing both the process, and a superior, intelligent, online control capability. The ultimate deliverable will be the development of new prototype machinery for the rotational moulding industry. The machinery will incorporate (a) innovative heating/cooling devices, and (b), the intelligent monitoring and control of the dynamics, heating and pressure involved in the rotational moulding process. The project will enable the production of higher value goods with more complex structures and faster cycles than is currently possible. It will allow the production of multi chamber, multi coloured and larger products of variable thickness, and will increase the use of new materials, such as cryogenically ground and recyclable polymers. It will permit entry into new markets in which other polymer processing methods (eg injection moulding, blow moulding) are technically unable to break into, therefore increasing consumer choice. In existing niche markets, it will also place rotational moulding with its low unit costs at a comparative cost advantage to the alternative polymer processing techniques. Due to its low start up costs, rotational moulding is dominant amongst small and medium sized enterprises in Europe (87% of companies are SMEs 1). The results of the project will have direct influence upon the core SMEs, and through its exploitation, an impact on SMEs who are not directly involved in the project. It is estimated that the project has the potential to reduce cycle times in rotational moulding by 50% and increase turnover by 33 %. It will have an environmentally positive impact, particularly compared to other polymer processing techniques because there is no waste involved in the process, and it is estimated that it will allow increased processing of recyclable plastics (up to 50% of production). The project will also act as a driver for technological development in the supply of raw materials. Technically the project, as informed by the research feasibility study will be developed over a four staged process3. Initially it will investigate and establish optimum approaches to mould heating and cooling during the manufacture of products by rotomoulding. This work will complement an investigation into mould design and the use of finite modelling techniques; it will analyse the relationship between mould design and controlled heating and cooling and pressurisation. Such factors will increase cycle times and moulding quality. Phase three will bring together the work identified above, in order to establish superior strategic control strategies and an advanced man machine interface to control the manufacture of complex shaped, multi colour, multi thickness and multi polymer components. These technological developments will be finalised into the production and testing of a pre competitive prototype. Constantly underlying the project will be the necessity to utilise the developments in real time commercial applications, and to maintain the low unit cost of rotational moulding compared to other polymer processing techniques. It is estimated that there will be a return on the ECU 600m investment within one year following the implementation of commercial exploitation.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology materials engineering colors
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering thermodynamic engineering
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
NG24 4TR Newark
United Kingdom
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